ISHS Acta Horticulturae 438: III International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal
SUPPLEMENTARY IRRIGATION FOR SPINELESS CACTUS PEAR |
| Authors: | L.L. Van Der Merwe, A. B. Wessels, Dawid I. Ferreira |
| Keywords: | Opuntia ficus-indica, drip irrigation, yield, fruit size, fruit quality |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.438.9 |
| Abstract:
Cactus pear is normally cultivated under dry land conditions. The main production areas in South Africa are in the summer rainfall area where unfavourable climatic conditions like dry spells even during the rainy season, late spring rains and dry winter conditions occur from time to time. This results inter alia in lower yields and small fruit, sometimes of inferior quality. A trial to supplement water in dry periods was started in 1992 on the experimental farm of the University of Pretoria in Pretoria. Treatments were: A - a single drip line with drippers spaced 600 mm apart; B - drip lines on both sides of the planting row with drippers spaced 1200 mm apart and C - control with no irrigation at all. Supplementary irrigation up to 12,5 mm per week had been provided from the middle of July to the middle of February. Properties evaluated for were yield, fruit mass, pulp mass, rind thickness, fruit length and diameter and total soluble solids. Results on yield, fruit and pulp mass for the seasons 1992/93, 1993/94 and 1994/95 are presented in this report. Rainfall played a major role in the results obtained. In the drier 1992/93 and 1993/94 seasons, treatments A and B performed better than C although not always significantly. During the wet 1994/95 season hardly any differences ocurred at all. It can be concluded that the cost of an irrigation system should be considered when cactus pear are cultivated in areas where only occasional droughts are experienced, such as in the Pretoria area. | |
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