Productivity and nutrient content of forage cactus irrigated with domestic sewage effluent

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate, in the second cycle, biomass productivity and nutrient content of Mexican Elephant Ear forage cactus, conducted under complementary irrigation, with treated domestic sewage. The experiment was carried out at Settlement Milagre, municipality of Apodi-RN, from June 2016 to February 2017. Five treatments were studied, four irrigation frequencies (2.3, 7, 14 and 21 days) a 3.5 mm death of effluent, and a control, rainfed cultivation (without irrigation). A randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. After 234 days of the first cut in the palm, green and dry mass yields were estimated, as well as the macro and micronutrient contents in the dry cactus biomass. Water supplementation performed by irrigation with intervals of 2.3, 7.0, 14.0 and 21.0 days, allowed satisfactory production of the forage cactus biomass. The water supplementation of 3.5 mm by irrigation with treated domestic sewage effluent, with intervals of 2.3 and 7.0 days, promotes higher productivity of forage cactus mexican elephant ear. The treated domestic sewage effluent is feasible for irrigation and fertigation of forage cactus, lacking additional mineral supplementation with phosphorus, calcium and zinc.