Boundary-Line Approach Macro-Nutrient Standards for Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller Variety “Rojo Pelón” Fruiting

Abstract

The aim of this research work was to identify the Boundary-Line Approach (B-LA) macro-nutrient optimum concentrations linked to maximum yield and sufficiency ranges at 90% maximum yield per 1-year-old fructification cladode for Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller variety "Rojo Pelón". Four years' (2012-2015) data of yield per fructification cladode and macro-nutrient concentration [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), or magnesium (Mg)] were used to elaborate bivariate scatter diagrams (n = 228). Selection from 9 to 11 points was performed to estimate quadratic functions as boundary-lines in each bivariate scatter diagram. The vertices allowed estimation of the optimum macro-nutrient concentrations:

Do macro-nutrient balanced compositions in a subspace of the ionome of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller maximize fruiting?

“…A few research works have involved 1-year-old cladode mineral contents and biomass or fruit production relationships. Recently, macro-nutrient norms for O. ficus-indica (L.) Miller variety 'Rojo Pelón' fruiting were estimated employing the Boundary-Line Approach (B-LA) by Hernández-Vidal et al (2021a); the estimated optimum concentrations were N = 10.2 g kg −1 , P = 3.04 g kg −1 , K = 35.18 g kg −1 , Ca = 36.65 g kg −1 , and Mg = 13.83 g kg −1 as linked to maximum fruit yield that varies between 1901.13 and 1984.41 g cladode −1 . Moreover, O. ficus-indica (L.) Miller variety 'Rojo Pelón' fruiting Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis (CND) norms were proposed by Hernández-Vidal et al (2021b); these CND standards are associated with the following 1-year-old fruiting cladode mean concentrations: N = 9.58 g kg −1 , P = 3.18 g kg −1 , K = 35.07 g kg −1 , Ca = 42.28 g kg −1 , and Mg = 14.48 g kg −1 .…”

“…However, the current state of knowledge on O. ficus-indica nutrient requirements has important limitations. The B-LA does not consider interactions or balances between (or among) nutrients (Hernández-Vidal et al, 2021a). In addition, the CND norms are supported by the centered log-ratio (clr) transformation to properly handle compositional data.…”

“…orthonormal balances, irl's) in 1-year-old cladodes as compositional spaces -i.e. complex interaction systems or concentration vectors representative of O. ficus-indica plant ionome-for fruiting remain unknown yet (Hernández-Vidal et al, 2021a). It deserves to be noted that, in compositional spaces, a component is inherently related to each other because changing a proportion inherently affects at least another proportion (Aitchison, 1994;Parent et al 2013a).…”