Mineral Extraction of Green Prickly Pear Cactus Under Drip Irrigation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56890/jpacd.v6i.299

Keywords:

prickly pear cactus, plant nutrition, drip irrigation.

Abstract

From April 2001 to March 2002, a study related to the extraction of nutrients in green prickly pear under drip irrigation was developed. Variety 69 (Opuntia ficus-indica) was used as a genetic material. Three humidity levels from the restoration of the 30%, 45%, and 60% of the daily evaporation were evaluated. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with three replications per treatment. The experimental plots were four plants rows of 4 m length, 0.4 m between plants and 0.6 m between rows. The results showed that the application of irrigation equivalent to 30%, 45%, and 60% of annual total evaporation achieved nopalito yields of 163.58, 174.15 and 171.8 t ha-1, respectively. The production significantly decreased during November and December, while in January it stopped completely. The macronutrient (N, P, and K) extraction showed a cyclic response during the year under the three humidity levels, showing the higher extraction during March, June, July, and August, while the lower extraction occurred in November, December, and February. No significant differences between the micronutrients (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and B) extraction were found. In general, we concluded that there were no significant differences during the year in the nutrient absorption by green prickly pear when irrigation was applied equally in the range from 45% to 60 % of the daily evaporation.

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Published

01-12-2004

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Section

Scientific Papers