First development of the small cactus on agroecological production in the semi-arid Sergipe

Abstract

Forage cactus is a cactaceous well adapted to the adverse conditions of the semiarid, although
the management modifies this morphology. Aiming to know these modifications, this study
evaluated the effect of different consortium systems on the small cactus morphology. The work
was carried out from January 2016 to February 2017. Five treatments were evaluated: Treatment
1 - Cactus in monoculture; Treatment 2- Cactus + Pork Beans; Treatment 3: Cactus + Pig
Bean + Corn; Treatment 4 - Cactus + Common Beans; Treatment 5 - Cactus + Common Bean
+ Corn. Due to the climatic seasonality, the cactus at the beginning of growth obtained good
development in all the variables observed, showing no disease or pest index. This reflected
in promising results, since the tendency is forages in drastic periods of drought to lower their
immunity and become susceptible to diseases. The treatments in consortium with corn did not
affect the growth of the cactus.