Intercropping forage cactus genotypes with wood species in a semi-arid environment

Forage cactus (Opuntia spp. and Nopalea spp.) is a crop tolerant to drought, high temperatures, and less fertile soils, which favors its cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions and production of cladodes to animal feed. Intercropping may improve water use efficiency and increase agricultural production sustainability. The aim of this research was to evaluate the growth and yield of forage cactus genotypes intercropped with timber species under semi-arid conditions. Three forage cactus genotypes, erect prickly pear 'Orelha de ElefanteMexicana' [O. stricta (Haw.) Haw.], 'Miuda' [N. cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck: syn. O. cochenillifera (L.) Mill.], and 'Baiana' [N. cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck] in three cropping systems (monocropping; intercropped with Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.; and intercropped with Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.) were studied. All species were irrigated with treated domestic effluent water. Plants were evaluated after 2 yr of cultivation. The forage cactus intercropped with timber species had lower cladode weight, dry matter yield, and lower carrying capacity than forage cactus in monocropped system regardless of genotype. These results suggest that timber species may inhibit the yield of forage cactus, and intercropping is not recommended. In addition, there was no significant difference in the performance of forage cactus when intercropping with M. caesalpiniifolia and P. juliflora. The P. juliflora had greater growth performance when compared with M. caesalpiniifolia intercropped with Miuda and Orelha de Elefante Mexicana. However, when intercropped with the Baiana, the growth of P. juliflora and M. caesalpiniifolia are similar to each other.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the growth and yield of forage cactus intercropped with timber species under semi-arid conditions. The results showed that intercropping with timber species reduced the yield of forage cactus. There was no significant difference in performance when intercropping with M. caesalpiniifolia and P. juliflora.