‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated at different population densities in a mechanizable arrangement

Abstract

Cactus pear is a crop adapted to the climatic conditions of the Brazilian semiarid region, so it has contributed to the socioeconomic development of this region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated at different population densities in a mechanizable arrangement. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with six population densities: 22,857; 34,286; 51,428; 62,857; 80,000 and 95,000 plants ha-1 and four repetitions. The following variables were evaluated: plant height, number of cladodes, cladode length, cladode width and cladode area index, green and dry matter yields, extraction/export of nutrients and soil chemical characteristics. Increase in population density in a mechanizable arrangement decreases the number of cladodes and increases the cladode area index. The maximum green and dry matter yield of cactus pear cultivated in arrangement that allows mechanization is expected with populations of 69,111.79 and 64,445.91 plants ha-1, respectively. Maximum values of extraction/export of nutrients in cactus pear tissue are expected at intermediate population densities (62,721.52-74,741.93 plants ha-1). Soil potential acidity has maximum value with 64,525.51 plants ha-1.