The Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on the Yield, Quality and Fatty Acid Composition of Opuntia ficus-indica Seed Oil

Vuyelwa Nkoi, Maryna de Wit, Herman Fouche, Gesine Coetzer and Arno Hugo
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Vuyelwa Nkoi: Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
Maryna de Wit: Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
Herman Fouche: Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
Gesine Coetzer: Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
Arno Hugo: Department of Animal, Pasture and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-15

Abstract: Cactus pears are nutritious, drought-tolerant plants that flourish in hot and arid regions. All its plant parts can be consumed by humans and animals. Fruit seed oil production is an important emerging industry in South Africa. As part of an initiative to promote cactus pears as multi-functional crops, dual-purpose cultivars should be identified, and their production increased. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the seed oil yield and quality of Opuntia ficus-indica . The project encompassed a trial using N fertilization from three N sources (limestone ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, urea) and four N application levels (0, 60, 120, 240 kg ha −1 ). Oil was quantitatively extracted from the seed using the Folch method; fatty acids were quantified using a Varian 430-GC. Seed oil content significantly increased ( p = 0.035) with increased N fertilization rates; the oil yield ranged between 7.96 and 9.54%. The composition of the main fatty acids (oleic, palmitic, cis -vaccenic and stearic acid) was significantly influenced; oleic and stearic acid were significantly increased by higher fertilization levels whereas a reducing trend was observed in palmitic and cis -vaccenic acid levels. The highest content fatty acid, linoleic acid, was not significantly influenced.

Keywords: cactus pear; fatty acids; fertilization; nitrogen; oil content (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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