Seasonal Changes and Nutrient Concentrations of “Cristalina” Cactus Pear Cladodes in Response to NPK Fertilization

ABSTRACT

There are scarce and conflicting reports on fruit yield (FY) and cladode nutrient concentrations for cactus pears (Opuntia spp.). The objective of this study was to examine the macro- and micronutrient cladode concentrations, the association between FY nutrient concentrations, and seasonal changes in macro- and micronutrients in fruiting cladodes of “Cristalina” cactus pear plants exposed to a nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilization matrix over three growing seasons. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design under field conditions. Seven samples of cladode were collected at different phenological stages for the measurement of N, P, K, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and boron (B). The analysis suggested that the most important nutrients for FY (20.5 t ha⁻¹) were N and P at 90 and 30 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. The seasonal pattern for macro- and micronutrients is shown and discussed. The latest topic deserves further research for understanding the cactus pear ionome and suggesting mineral fertilization programs to the cactus pear growers.

KEYWORDS:

• Mineral nutrition
• nitrogen
• Opuntia albicarpa Scheinvar
• phosphorus
• potassium

Acknowledgment

We appreciate the comments from the two anonymous referees and the editor that enhanced this presentation. We thank Miguel and Valentín Nava-Félix, the owners of the orchard “Rancho La Tunera”. Appreciation is extended to Manuel González-Solís and Jorge Omar Zegbe. We are grateful to Dr. Mary Lou Mendum (University of California at Davis) for improving this manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded in part by The Fundación Produce Zacatecas A.C., No. Ref.: 02/FPZ/2001 and The Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, No. Ref.: 0007-2005-1_12448.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded in part by The Fundación Produce Zacatecas A.C., No. Ref.: 02/FPZ/2001 and The Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, No. Ref.: 0007-2005-1_12448.