Growth and yield of cactus pear under irrigation frequencies and nitrogen fertilization

ABSTRACT Microirrigation associated with nitrogen (N) fertilization aims to meet the water and nutritional demands of cactus pear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and yield of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) irrigated by microirrigation and fertilized with N. The experiment was conducted in the field at the Poço Redondo farm, Santa Luzia, PB, Brazil (6° 52’ 27’’ S and 36º 56’ 0’’ W and altitude of 299 m), between April and December 2017. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, with five irrigation frequencies (7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days) and two types of fertilization (soil fertilized with N and not fertilized) in the cultivar ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’, with three replicates. Different irrigation frequencies promote reduction in green biomass yield and increase in the economic water productivity when using of the cladode for propagative material. Nitrogen fertilization increased growth, green biomass yield, water productivity and economic water productivity. The greatest economic return is obtained by producing cladodes marketed for propagative material. Reducing the frequency of irrigation promotes greater water saving, increasing the irrigated area and production by using less water at high frequency.