Desempenho agronômico e bromátologico da palma forrageira em segunda colheita sob níveis de reposição de água

Abstract

Given the need to leverage livestock in the semiarid region, there is a need to invest in crops that are adapted to adverse conditions in this region, such as cactus pear. The objective was to present an adequate irrigation management for cactus pear in the semiarid region, based on the evaluation of plant growth, agronomic yield and chemical quality of two cultivars, to define the best material to be used under irrigated conditions. The experiment was conducted in Pitarana, district of Montalvânia-MG (2017-2018) and involved six water demand treatments (T1, without irrigation; T2, 15% of ETo; T3, 30% of ETo; T4, 45% of ETo; T5, 60 % of ETo and T6, 75% of ETo) and two cactus pear genetic materials (cultivars ‘Gigante’ - Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. and ‘Miúda’ - Nopalea cochenillifera Salm-Dyck). A split plot was used, with the irrigation treatments was in the plots and the genetic materials was in the subplots, in a randomized blocks design, with four replicates. Morphological and yield evaluations were carried out during harvest and the samples were collected and taken to the Unimontes Food and Animal Nutrition Analysis Laboratory for chemical analysis. The 'Miúda' is recommended under irrigated conditions, as it presented better dry matter yield, EUA and dry matter content. The 'Gigante' presented higher contentof insoluble fiber in acid detergent (FAD). For crude protein (CP) content, 'Miúda' had the highest mean for the 30% ET0 level, while 'Giant' had the highest mean for the 60% ET0 level.