Organic Fertilization with Biofertilizer Alters the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Young Cladodes of Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw

Márcio S. Silva (), Jackson S. Nóbrega, Cleberton C. Santos, Franciscleudo B. Costa, Daniel C. Abreu, Wininton M. Silva, Aaron Kinyu Hoshide, Fernando A. L. Gomes, Ulisses S. Pereira, Jéssica A. Linné and Silvana P. Q. Scalon
Additional contact information
Márcio S. Silva: Center of Science and Agri-Food Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, Street Jario Vieira Feitosa, 1770, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Jackson S. Nóbrega: Center of Science and Agri-Food Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, Street Jario Vieira Feitosa, 1770, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Cleberton C. Santos: Faculty of Agricultural Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Highway Dourados, Itahum/km 1, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil
Franciscleudo B. Costa: Center of Science and Agri-Food Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, Street Jario Vieira Feitosa, 1770, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Daniel C. Abreu: AgriSciences, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, Caixa Postal 729, Sinop 78550-970, MT, Brazil
Wininton M. Silva: AgriSciences, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, Caixa Postal 729, Sinop 78550-970, MT, Brazil
Aaron Kinyu Hoshide: AgriSciences, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, Caixa Postal 729, Sinop 78550-970, MT, Brazil
Fernando A. L. Gomes: Department of Plant Science and Environmental Science, Federal University of Paraíba, Unit II, Areia 58397-000, PB, Brazil
Ulisses S. Pereira: Center of Science and Agri-Food Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, Street Jario Vieira Feitosa, 1770, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Jéssica A. Linné: Faculty of Agricultural Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Highway Dourados, Itahum/km 1, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil
Silvana P. Q. Scalon: Faculty of Agricultural Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Highway Dourados, Itahum/km 1, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-23

Abstract: Cactus cladodes are consumed by humans in arid and semiarid regions of the world. The use of biofertilizers when cultivating cacti can improve the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil, as well as the cladodes’ productivity and physical-chemical quality. We evaluated the physical and physical-chemical qualities of different lengths of Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. Cladodes were grown with different biofertilizer doses. The 3 × 5 factorial design employed corresponded to three cladode sizes (8–12, 12–16, and 16–20 cm) and five doses of biofertilizer (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) with three repetitions in a completely randomized design. Cladode characteristics were evaluated 40 days after emergence: diameter, fresh mass, soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solid and titratable acidity ratio (SS/TA), ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, total soluble sugars, chlorophyll a , b , and total, carotenoids, and respiration. The Opuntia stricta cladodes sized 16–20 cm exhibited better physical and physical-chemical qualities as well as better respiratory rates. The biofertilizer improved the cladodes’ physical and physical-chemical qualities, regardless of the cladode’s size. Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. cladodes had levels of antioxidant compounds similar to those of some conventional vegetables, making them suitable for improving human health in arid environments.

Keywords: human food; Opuntia stricta; organic production; non-conventional vegetable; soluble solids (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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