Desempenho de palmas forrageiras no sistema de cultivo sobre o solo em período de déficit hídrico.

Abstract

The forage cactus, native to Mexico, has a wide global distribution. In Brazil, the species primarily cultivated is Opuntia ficus-indica, making the country a world leader in palm cultivation. Its resistance to water scarcity and physiological mechanisms make it highly adapted to semi-arid regions. One of the major obstacles to the expansion of forage cactus cultivation is pest attacks, particularly by the cochineal scale insect (Dactylopius opuntiae). This research aimed to evaluate the performance of cactus pear varieties Nopalea cochenillifera, Opuntia stricta and Nopalea sp. cultivated in the Soil Cultivation System implanted in a period of water deficit. The research area is located in the municipality of Jaçanã in Rio Grande do Norte, with geographic coordinates: 06o25'33''S and 36o12'18"W. The study used an experimental design in randomized blocks, in a 3 x 2 factorial scheme, including three varieties of palms and two cultivation systems, totaling six treatments. Data collected in the field were submitted to analysis of variance, and means compared by Tukey's test, α ≤ 0.05, using the Sisvar computational application. The analyzes of the results showed that the performance of the species during the dry period was similar in both cropping systems. Comparing the treatments, although the averages of the cladodes showed oscillations, most did not show a significant difference. In some cases, the variety of cactus pear stood out in relation to the others. The results obtained indicate a promising crop productivity compared to the Conventional Cultivation System and the new Soil Cultivation System offers an economically viable alternative for rural producers, as it reduces the need for labor and accelerates the implementation process.