Influence of the nurse plant effect of Prosopis flexuosa DC. on nutrient contents and productivity of Opuntia ellisiana Griffiths

GRÜNWALDT JOSEFINA; GRÜNDWALDT E.; EDUARDO MARTINEZ CARRETERO; GUEVARA J.C.

Coquimbo-La Serena

Congreso; IX Internation Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal; 2017

In arid conditions, the low quality of the forage and water shortage could be eased by the introduction of Opuntia species. The cladodes contain high soluble carbohydrate,calcium and carotene contents, while they are low in protein and fiber. Furthermore, the adaptation of Prosopis to herbivory is the main reason for its dominance in silvopastoral systems in arid and semiarid areas of America. A number of species grow well usually under Prosopis canopy, responding to a higher nutrient content in the soil, creating ?islands of fertility?. The hypothesis of this research was that the productivity and nutrient contents of the cactus planted under P. flexuosa will be higher than of those plantedoutside the canopy, and that these parameters will be influenced by the cactus position, north or south from the center of the tree. Furthermore, the frost damage to cactus will be higher outside the canopy. The experimental design incluided 12 plants under the canopy of Prosopis and 17 outside of it, located in CRICYT?s campus (32° 53? 45?? S 68° 52? 28?? 840 msnm). After one year, the totality of the cladodes was harvested, except the double cladodes planted at the beginning of the experiment. The average cladode production per plant was 5.7 and 3.1 under and outside the canopy, respectively. The bromatological values were: moisture (91.9 and 89.1%), organic matter (89.8 and 76.9%), crude protein (8.0 and 4.4%), acid detergent fiber (18.3 and 13.8%), potassium (3.6 and 3.2%), phosphorus (0.11 and 0.07%), calcium (4.5 and 5.8 %) and sodium (0.02 and 0.04%), under and outside the canopy, respectively. Moisture, organic matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, potassium and phosphorus values were higher andstatistically different under the canopy, whereas calcium and sodium values were higher outside the canopy (P