Spinless Forage Cactus

Spinless Forage Cactus

Author: Marcelo de Andrade Ferreira

Publisher:

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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Forage cactus is a perennial crop, which has been widely exploited for feeding ruminants in the semiarid region of different countries around the world. The main objective of this chapter is to describe the use and importance of spineless cactus as forage, desertification mitigation, source of water for animals and a source of income for producers in semiarid regions. The main species explored in Brazil are Opuntia spp. and Nopalea spp., due to characteristics such as resistance to pests, productivity, water-use efficiency and demand for soil fertility. The productivity of the species in a region will depend on its morphological characteristics, plant spacing, planting systems and its capacity to adapt to climatic and soil conditions. In other parts of the world, cactus species are the most cosmopolitan and destructive among invasive plants. However, the use of spineless forage cactus in areas where it can develop normally and may become the basis for ruminants,Äô feed would increase the support capacity production systems. Thus, specifically for Brazil,Äôs semiarid region these species can make the difference as forage for animal feeding, cultivated as monoculture or intercropped, for soil conservation and desertification mitigation, source of water for animals, preservation of the Caatinga biome and be a potential source of income for producers if cultivated as vegetable for nutritional properties and medicinal derivative of fruits and cladodes for exports.


Cactus (Opuntia Spp.) as Forage

Cactus (Opuntia Spp.) as Forage

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 164

ISBN-13: 9789251047057

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Opuntias are multipurpose plants that are increasingly being used in agricultural systems in arid and semi-arid areas. Due to its high water-use efficiency, it is particularly useful as forage in times of drought and in areas where few other crops can grow, and it is now considered a key component for the productivity and sustainability of these regions. This publication presents current scientific and practical information on the use of the cactus Opuntia as forage for livestock.


Burbank's Spineless Cactus: The Complete Anthology

Burbank's Spineless Cactus: The Complete Anthology

Author: Luther Burbank

Publisher: Loose Cannon Ent.

Published:

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13:

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Luther Burbank's Amazing Spineless Cactus This is the most complete anthology of material on Burbank's famous Spineless Cactus which he developed early in the Twentieth century. It incudes 5 complete booklets/catalogues published by Burbank from 1909-1915. Filled with numerous details and a wealth of photos, you will find no more exhastive volume on this subject. Over 160 pages, carefully scanned and corrected from the rare original documents this collection is sure to please the student of horticulture or stockman looking for a low-water source of cattle fodder. Learn how they were developed, where they can be grown climate-wise, how to grow and propagate, the fodder and fruiting varieties, and so much more. Luther Burbank was probably America's most famous botanist, horticulturist and pioneer in agricultural science. He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants over his lifetime. Burbank's varied creations included fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, and vegetables. He developed a spineless cactus (useful for cattle-feed), the super-popular Santa Rosa Plum and the plumcot. Student's of Burbank would be wise to also examine the other books he wrote and co-wrote, on his methods and results, including his eight-volume How Plants Are Trained to Work for Man (1921), Harvest of the Years (with Wilbur Hall, 1927), Partner of Nature (1939), and Half-Hour Experiments with Plants (available at Google Play).


Production of Spineless Cactus in Brazilian Semiarid

Production of Spineless Cactus in Brazilian Semiarid

Author: Wilma Cristina Cavalcante

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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The term "spineless cactus" is used in Brazil to designate cultivars of Opuntia ficus indica Mill and Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck. The spineless cactus was consolidated in Brazilian semiarid as a strategic fundamental food resource in several production livestock systems, constituting a plant with enormous productive potential. Thus, the spineless cactus has been widely cultivated and used for several decades, by enabling the animal feeding in critical periods of year because of its characteristics, morpho-anatomical and physiological (CAM), which makes it tolerant to long droughts, being a crop that presents high productivity in droughts conditions, when compared to other forages. Nevertheless, the spineless cactus is a crop relatively picky about soil and climate characteristics of region, presenting greater growth in fertile soils, as well as in regions where nighttime temperatures are cool and the air humidity is relatively high. Although the crop be adapted to long droughts periods, many times it's necessary to perform irrigation in its production system, mainly in regions of low rainfall, for to supply its water needs, thus ensuring productivity and survival of crop. Therefore, the knowledge of characteristics of plant, as well as of appropriate management techniques to crop, is essential for the good performance of spineless cactus.