Accumulation and export of nutrients in cactus pear cladodes (Opuntia ficus-indica) under different managements in the Brazilian Semiarid

Abstract

The present study evaluated the accumulation and export of nutrients in cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) cv. Gigante, fertilized with combinations of nitrogen (10, 70, 100, 130, and 190 kg ha-1 year-1 N) and phosphorus (10, 70, 100, 130, and 190 kg ha-1 year-1 P2O5) under annual and biennial harvests, in Quixadá and Tejuçuoca, using a split-plot randomized block design with four replications. In Quixadá, under annual and biennial harvests, the following orders of accumulation of macronutrients (in kg ha-1 year-1) were found, respectively: K (98.8) > Ca (87.2) > N (46.7) > Mg (26.8) > S (18.4) > P (2.04) and Ca (33.5) > K (31.1) > S (18.6) > N (12.9) > Mg (10.5) > P (0.81). In Tejuçuoca, under annual and biennial harvests, the orders of accumulation of macronutrients were, respectively: K (146.5) > Ca (204.6) > N (128.1) > Mg (75.8) > S (50.3) > P (3.7) and K (397.2) > N (191.3) > S (241.2) > Ca (167.8) > Mg (131.0) > P (14.1). The maintenance/production fertilization in cactus pear should be planned according to productive potential, fertilization and harvest managements, and cultivation region, based on nutritional requirement and considering the nutrient recovery efficiency.