03457naa a2200361 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902400490006010000230010924501690013226000090030152022980031065000210260865000110262965000120264065000130265265000130266565000220267865000210270065300270272165300120274865300280276070000270278870000230281570000300283870000170286870000240288570000240290970000260293370000200295970000230297977300930300221512532023-01-31       2022    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d7 ahttps://doi.org/10.56890/jpacd.v24i.5142DOI1 aALVES, H. K. M. N.  aIntegrated management of agronomic practices in the forage cactusbmaximizing productivity, biological efficiency and economic profitability.h[electronic resource]  c2022  aForage cactus cropping systems that include a combination of agricultural practices (cloning, irrigation, mulching, and/or intercropping) can increase forage production and economic return in semi-arid environments. This study evaluated the effect on productivity, biological efficiency, and economic return of combining different practices with forage cactus cropping systems in the semi-arid region of Brazil. The research was conducted in four experimental areas, in a randomized block design with four replications, and included the following practices: 1) clones – irrigation - cover, 2) different irrigation depths, 3) intercropping - mulching, and 4) different levels of mulch. The treatments in experiment I consisted of three cactus clones (‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’—OEM; ‘Miúda’—MIU and ‘IPA-Sertânia’—IPA), two water regimes (rainfed and irrigated), and two levels of mulch (with and without mulch). Experiment II comprised four irrigation depths (0, 40, 80, and 120% of the crop evapotranspiration) and three cactus clones. In experiment III, three crop arrangements (single cactus, cactus intercropped with millet, and single millet) were evaluated under two levels of mulching (with and without mulching). In experiment IV, four levels of mulch were used (0, 5, 10, and 15 Mg ha-1). The total number of cladodes per plant, fresh matter yield (YFM), dry matter yield (YDM), and final plant density were obtained when harvesting. Economic viability was assessed using the profitability index (PI). The rainfed systems showed greater yield. The use of mulch afforded greater productivity. The OEM clone (YFM = 310.76 Mg ha-1 and YDM = 29.87 Mg ha-1) obtained a higher yield than did the IPA and MIU clones. The highest PI values were achieved under the rainfed systems. The MIU and IPA clones exhibited lower PI values. The cactus-millet intercrop achieved the best performance with the use of mulch. Cactus systems of 15.0 Mg ha-1 showed a greater PI value. It was concluded that the integrated management of such practices as intercropping, mulching, and the adoption of the OEM clone can increase the supply of forage. These practices can promote the sustainable intensification of forage input in Livestock Production Systems in semi-arid environments.  aAnimal nutrition  aForage  aOpuntia  aPastures  aForragem  aNutrição Animal  aPalma Forrageira  aCapacidade competitiva  aNopalea  aValor presente líquido1 aJARDIM, A. M. da R. F.1 aSOUZA, L. S. B. de1 aARAÚJO JÚNIOR, G. do N.1 aALVES, C. P.1 aARAUJO, G. G. L. de1 aSTEIDLE NETO, A. J.1 aSALVADOR, K. R. da S.1 aPINHEIRO, A. G.1 aSILVA, T. G. F. da  tJournal of the Professional Association for Cactus Developmentgv. 24, p. 307-329, 2022.