As a strategy to increase forage production and ensure livestock feeding during the period of lower feed supply in the tropical semiarid, the use of forage species such as forage cactus and tree legumes adapted to the climate and soil conditions of the region is a promising alternative. This research was conducted in order to analyze morphological and productive aspects of forage cactus and tree legumes in agroforestry systems (AFSs) contrasted with forage cactus in monoculture. Two intercropping systems and one monoculture were compared: i) forage cactus isolated cv. IPA Sertânia (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) - Cactus; ii) forage cactus cv. IPA Sertania cultivation interspersed with double rows of gliricidia [Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud.] – cactus + gliricidia; iii) forage cactus cv. IPA Sertânia cultivation interspersed with double rows of leucena [Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit.] – cactus + leucaena. The design was split-plot in randomized blocks with four replications. Main plot was the production system and the split-plot was the manure type. When only AFSs were analyzed, other factor was studied (cactus distance from tree legume row), using in this case the stripsplit plot in RCB design. The experimental area has a history of fertilization in 2013 with four different manure types (chicken litter, goat manure, cattle manure and sheep manure). In January of 2017, all plots received cattle manure, however, previous organic amendment type was considered a factor due to possible residual effects. Cactus height and width were measured and samples collected for dry matter analysis (DM). Five cactus plants per subplot were sampled at three different distances: 0, 2, and 4 m from the legume central double row. Tree legume measurements included width, height, number of stems, and base diameter. Three trees of each legume species in the different subplots were collected for DM analyses of thin leaves and branches. The data obtained for forage cactus were analyzed under two aspects: 1. Comparing the intercropping systems and the single forage cactus; 2. Comparing only intercropping systems and considering legume distances. The legume data were analyzed comparing only the intercropping systems. Cactus in monoculture or in AFSs were affected by the residual effects of the fertilizers previously used in the experimental area, showing height and width values of 0.97 and 1.01m, 1.02 and 1.02 m, and 0.99 and 0.91 m for cactus + leucena, cactus + gliricidia and cactus, respectively. Dry matter production was 24.03, 25.02, and 20.89 t ha-1 2 years-1 for cactus + leucena, cactus + gliricidia and cactus, respectively. Morphological and productive characteristics of forage cactus in AFSs were affected by the adopted system, legume double row distances and manure sources, with greater height, width and DM production observed near legume trees. Leucena produced 0.99 t DM ha-1 year-1 and gliricidia 1.06 t DM ha-1 year-1 . Tree height averaged 4.12 m for leucena and 4.06 m for gliricidia, and plant width of 1.87 m for leucena and 2.25 m for gliricidia. Both leucena and gliricidia showed no differences in the evaluated periods, both of which can be adopted in forage cactus AFSs in tropical semiarid.