Production and Quality of Nopalitos in the Comarca Lagunera Region of Mexico in Relation to Price in the Domestic Market

Abstract

Nopal’s (prickly pear cactus) crops with horticultural purpose is based on the use of high population densities (40,000 plants ha-1), continuous pruning of the bud, water and nutrients supply, and the use of compact land surfaces. In the URUZA-UACh experimental station, Bermejillo, Durango, México. Ten nopal cultivars were evaluated under drip irrigation system on three dates: May, July, and September 2001. Differences in bud yield among cultivars and dates were found, the superior cultivars with an average production of 20 t ha-1 month-1, with 640 m3 month-1 ha-1, with the smaller production in the colder month (September). Important differences in acid (pH) as the hour of the day (which influences the cutting hour), as well as content protein, fat, neutral detergent fiber, ashes (minerals: phosphorus and calcium) and the in vitro digestibility among evaluated cultivars buds, selecting cultivars C-15 for quality and C-13 for production. The price in this year had big fluctuation according to consume region from U.S. $ 0.10 kg-1 to U.S. $1.20 kg-1. In the Comarca Lagunera a price of U.S. $0.38 kg-1 was maintained, being similar to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon (U.S. $0.32 kg-1).