Online Publication Session - X International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal

Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) is a xerophytic species widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions. Introduction of cactus in arid regions of India would greatly help the farmers to cater the fodder problem especially in the summer period. A field experiment was undertaken at Barmer district of Rajasthan having typical desert soils, poor in fertility, low water holding capacity and organic matter content and at Bhuj District of Gujarat having sandy loam and slightly saline soils, to study the growth and yield performance of spineless cactus during 2019-2020. A single cladode was erect planted at a spacing of 2 m x 1 m during September 2019. The organic manure was provided during planting and protective irrigation given during summer. The growth performance was periodically monitored and the plant biomass was harvested during December 2020 after 15 months from planting. The plant height of 52.79 cm, cladode length 19.40 cm, cladode width 9.34 cm, number of cladodes 6.67 and fresh biomass yield of 0.51 kg per plant was recorded at Rajasthan and at Gujarat it was 52.39 cm, 23.64 cm, 10.94 cm, 12.32, 4.47 kg per plant respectively at 15 months of plant growth. The data also revealed that the growth performance and biomass yield of the cactus were comparatively better in Gujarat than Rajasthan as later being the typical desert region with poor soils and acute water shortage. It could be concluded that spineless cactus can be grown at both arid regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat to provide an alternative green fodder to livestock during the harsh summer season.