Meteorological variables and morphological characteristics influencing the evapotranspiration of forage cactus

Irrigation and Drainage

et al. 2022

Self Cite

Measurements of crop evapotranspiration (ET C ) and crop coefficients (k C ) in cactus have not yet been adjusted for the phenological stage using conservation practices (i.e. mulching). In this study, soil water dynamics, ET C and k C were measured in the forage cactus under cultivation systems with (WM) and without (NM) the use of mulch in the semi-arid region of Brazil. Opuntia stricta was subjected to irrigation depths based on a percentage of the reference evapotranspiration (ET 0 ) (rainfed, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) and to two systems of cultivation: WM and NM. Over time, the phenophases ( φ Ph) were established; the soil water balance components were calculated and the crop yield was evaluated at harvest. The use of 8.2 Mg ha À1 mulch led to almost no reduced water consumption by the crop when compared to the NM system; however, the mulch did maximize yield, at 839 C day, when irrigated with 50% ET 0 . The k C value was higher under the WM system, with the differences decreasing throughout the cycle ( φ PhI, 36%; φ PhII, 27%; φ PhIII, 23%; φ PhIV-HT, 17%; and φ PhIV-RF, 14%). Therefore, the use of mulch in cultivating the cactus optimized forage production in less time and significantly increased the water use efficiency of the crop. K E Y W O R D S cladode emission, harvest, Opuntia stricta, phenophase, semi-arid Résumé Les mesures de l'évapotranspiration des cultures (ET C ) et les coefficients de culture (k C ) chez le cactus n'ont pas encore été ajustées pour le stade Article title in French: Utilisation de paillis dans la culture du cactus fourrage permet d'optimiser le rendement en moins de temps et d'augmenter l'efficacité de l'utilisation de l'eau agricole.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of mulch in cultivating the forage cactus optimizes yield in less time and increases the water use efficiency of the crop

Alves

Silva

Irrigation and Drainage

et al. 2022

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“…The SWB is one of the most common methods for quantifying water consumption in various crops, including forage cactus cropping systems (Barbosa et al, 2017a(Barbosa et al, , 2017bLima et al, 2018;Pereira et al, 2017;Queiroz et al, 2015Queiroz et al, , 2016Silva et al, 2014Silva et al, , 2015. However, due to the high volume of moisture retained in the forage cactus cladodes (approximately 90%), the use of the SWB without considering the amount of water retained by the plant can overestimate the actual ET of the crop by up to 5.4%.…”

Section: Swb and Etmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving productivity and water use efficiency by intercropping cactus and millet

Souza

Júnior

Irrigation and Drainage

et al. 2023

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The adoption of resilient strategies is crucial for improving agricultural production and optimizing water resources, especially in arid and semi‐arid areas. The aim of this study was to analyse the productivity, evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE) in the production systems of forage cactus and millet under different cropping systems. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with six treatments and four replications. The treatments corresponded to the cropping systems: single cactus, single millet and a cactus–millet intercrop, with and without mulching. The soil moisture was monitored over time. ET was measured using the soil water balance. WUE was calculated for each cropping system. There was no difference in ET between production systems. WUE was significantly higher in the cactus–millet intercrops, with and without mulching (2.47 and 2.31 kg m−3, respectively). The use of 17.6 Mg ha−1 mulch under both cropping systems did not significantly reduce the ET; however, the gains in productivity afforded by intercropping the cactus and millet increased the WUE of the production system. It is concluded that adoption of the cactus–millet intercropping system can be employed using the same irrigation depth as adopted under the single‐cactus system, with the aim of optimizing water resources in dry areas.

“…Entre as diversas forrageiras que existem no semiárido brasileiro, como gramíneas e plantas nativas, esta cactácea destaca-se em virtude dos seus mecanismos de adaptações à escassez de água, o que permite a sua perenidade em ambientes de extrema condição de aridez, mantendo a sustentabilidade da pecuária no semiárido, proporcionando produção quantitativa e qualitativa, através da melhoria na dieta alimentar a custos razoáveis para os produtores rurais (Alencar et al, 2011;Barbosa et al, 2017;Jardim et al, 2020b;Jardim et al, 2021b;Silva et al, 2020c). A palma forrageira possibilita a produção animal nos períodos mais críticos do ano, surgindo como fonte alternativa de alimento, pois oferece boa disponibilidade no período seco, bom coeficiente de digestibilidade da matéria seca e alta produtividade.…”

Section: Origem E Distribuição Da Palma Forrageiraunclassified

Utilização de biofertilizantes alternativos no cultivo de palma forrageira: Uma revisão

Xavier

Souza

et al. 2021

RSD

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A palma (Opuntia e Nopalea) é uma das forrageiras mais importantes do mundo, nativa do México, pertencendo à família Cactaceae, e possui uma alta eficiência no uso da água. No Brasil é cultivada principalmente no Nordeste, onde é considerada estratégica devido as condições climáticas da região. Pesquisas indicam que a adubação orgânica induz um melhor desempenho produtivo da palma forrageira. Neste sentido, o uso de biofertilizante para suprir as necessidades nutricionais das culturas agrícolas, tem sido uma importante ferramenta para os produtores rurais, por se tratar de um insumo orgânico de baixo custo, resultante da fermentação aeróbica de matéria orgânica e água, e que pode influenciar positivamente as propriedades químicas e físicas do solo. Esta revisão de literatura tem por objetivo apresentar alternativas de práticas agrícolas com adubação orgânica como o uso de biofertilizantes em sistemas de cultivo com palma forrageira visando alternativas promissoras com eficiência de cultivo. Conclui-se que o cultivo de palma forrageira com utilização de biofertilizantes alternativos orgânicos, incrementam a produção das plantas, e viabilizar técnicas de baixo custo aos produtores rurais.