Adubação orgânica na produção de palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus-indica (L) Mill.) no Cariri paraibano.

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the vegetative development and the productivity of the dense sowed forage cactus, as well as its nutritional potential, when submitted to different levels of fertilization with caprine and bovine manure. The experiment was carried out through field tests in an area of 1008 m2 at Cajazeiras Farm in the municipality of Assunção-PB, with altitude of 615 meters, Latitude 07°02’54”S and Longitude 36°43’29”W. The soil from the experimental area is the planosolic one with sandy surface and average depth of two meters. The statistic design used in the experiment was randomized blocks with four repetitions. The treatments were randomly arranged and distributes in the following way: T1 – without manure; T2 - 30 t ha-1 of caprine manure; T3 – 60 t ha-1 of caprine manure, T4 – 15 t ha-1 of caprine manure and 15 t ha-1 of bovine manure, , T5 – 30 t ha-1 of bovine manure, T6 – 60 t ha-1 of bovine manure and T7 – 30 t of ha-1 caprine manure and 30 t ha-1 of bovine manure. As a source of phosphorus was used 450 kg of ha-1 of steamed bone meal constant in foundation. The parameters of chemical and bromatological composition of the analyzed cactus were: level of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicelulose, ashes and phosphorus. At 180, 240, 300 and 360 days after out planting ( DAP), plant height, width, length, thickness and cladode perimeter. It was also determined the cladode area and productivity at 365 days after out planting. The chemical composition as much as the cladode area did not show any significant effect (p ≥ 0,05) when submitted to the treatment with manure. When test F was applied, it was observed that the results of the plant height, width, length, thickness and cladode perimeter all presented a relevant effect on the last evaluation. Maximum productivity of green matter was 174,69 t ha-1 with significant effect on productivity due to the applied treatments. Therefore, it was concluded that, even without presenting significant effect on the nutritious potential, there has been an improvement on the quality of the cactus and its crop, highlighting that the dense sowed forage cactus is economically viable, on the conditions of this research.