M. Arba^1,a , A. Falisse^2,3, R. Choukr-Allah¹ and M. Sindic^4
1 Department of Horticulture, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Horticultural Complex of Agadir, Morocco
² Crop Production Unit, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Liège University, Belgium
³ Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj, Romania
⁴ Quality and Food Safety Laboratory, Gembloux Agro Bio Tech, Liège University, Belgium

SUMMARY Introduction – In order to optimise the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization of cactus pear in arid regions, we decided to determine its effects on the yield and fruit quality as well as on the plant phenology. Materials and methods – Five N-P dressings were compared on the spineless cv. Moussa in the Agadir area: 0–0, 0–80, 40–40, 60–0, and 60–80 (in kg N ha-1 – kg P2O5 ha-1) over two consecutive growing seasons (2011 and 2012). Yield components and physico-chemical characteristics of the fruit were recorded at harvest. Results and discussion – Although in 2011 the applications of N and P had no effect on fruit yielding, in 2012 the dressings 60N or 80P alone increased the yield by +3.0 and 6.1 kg plant-1, respectively, compared with the control. Combining both N and P at the same rate resulted in a maximum yield of 14.9 kg plant-1. Fertilization had positive effects on flowering rates, fruit size and fruit number, and did not modify the content of pulp, the juice content, peel thickness, the juice dry matter, the pH, titratable acidity, total sugars and soluble solids. It also did not modify the dates of flowering and of ripening. Nitrogen dressings significantly increased the number of emitted buds and emitted shoots on one-year cladodes by four fold. Conclusion – Relevant N-P fertilization significantly improved fruit yield, the number of fruits per plant and fruit size in particular. Long term and postharvest effects shall be further studied. Résumé Effets de la fertilisation azotée et phosphorique sur les composantes de rendement et la qualité des fruits du figuier de Barbarie Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Introduction – La fertilisation azotée (N) et phosphorique (P) du figuier de Barbarie a besoin d’être optimisée en zone aride. Cette étude vise à en évaluer les effets sur le rendement et la qualité des fruits et à en décrire les effets sur la phénologie de la plante. Matériel et méthodes – Cinq fumures N-P ont été comparées pendant deux années sur la variété inerme ‘Moussa’ dans la région d’Agadir: 0–0, 0–80, 40–40, 60–0, et 60–80 (en kg N ha-1 – kg P2O5 ha-1). Les composantes du rendement et les caractères physico-chimiques des fruits ont été enregistrés à la récolte. Résultats et discussion – En 2011, les différents niveaux de fertilisation n’ont pas eu d’effet sur le rendement alors qu’en 2012, l’interaction entre N et P était très significative. En comparaison avec le témoin, l’apport de 80P ou de 60N a augmenté le rendement de +3,0 et +6,1 kg plante-1, respectivement, et le traitement 60N + 80P de +14,9 kg plante-1. Les traitements fertilisants ont eu des effets positifs sur le nombre de fleurs et le nombre de fruits formés, ainsi que sur le calibre des fruits; en revanche, ils n’ont pas eu d’effet significatif sur la teneur en pulpe et en jus de fruits, l’épaisseur du tégument, la teneur en matière sèche du jus, le pH, l’acidité titrable, les sucres totaux et matières sèches solubles. Ils n’ont pas nettement modifié les dates de floraison et de maturation des plantes. Cependant, l’apport d’azote a augmenté le nombre de bourgeons émis par cladode et le nombre de pousses sur les cladodes d’un an, jusqu’à le multiplier par 4 environ. Conclusion – Une fertilisation N-P appropriée permet d’améliorer de façon significative le rendement en fruits des cultures de figuier de Barbarie en condition aride, en particulier le nombre de fruits par plante et le calibre des fruits. Les effets dans la durée et en post-récolte doivent encore être étudiés. Keywords Morocco, cactus pear, Opuntia ficus-indica, agronomic yield, crop management, fruit quality, phenology Mots clés Maroc, figuier de Barbarie, Opuntia ficus-indica, rendement agronomique, gestion de la production, qualité du fruit, phénologie

Significance of this study What is already known on this subject? Studies on mineral fertilization of cactus pear were carried out in some countries where cactus pear is cultivated. Several authors reported that mineral fertilization increased fruit yield, but some of them have indicated that fruit quality could be affected by fertilization. What are the new findings? Obtained results showed that nitrogen and phosphorus mineral fertilization improved fruit yield, mainly fruit size (weight and dimensions). Fruit quality was not significantly affected. Mineral fertilization also increased the emission of buds and of shoots. What is the expected impact on horticulture? Understanding the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus mineral fertilization on fruit yield and quality of cactus pear. The improvement of cactus pear managing practices, mainly the application of fertilizers, pruning and harvesting. The improvement of the socio-economic life of the farmers and the rural populations in the arid and semi-arid regions, notably in Morocco.

E-mail: arbamohamed@yahoo.fr  

References

• AOAC (2002). Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International, 17^th ed. (Gaithersburg, Md.).

• Arba, M., and Sharoua, E. (2013). ‘Mles’ and ‘Draibina’ wild populations of cactus pear in Khouribga area. Acta Hortic. 995, 63–68. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.995.7.

• Arba, M., Falisse, A., Choukr-Allah, R., and Paul, R. (2015). Phenology of flowering and fruiting of cactus pear and effect of NP fertilising. Acta Hortic. 1067, 31–38. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1067.3.

• Barritt, B.H. (2001). Apple quality for consumers. Compact Fruit Tree 34(2), 54–56.

• Bekir, E.A. (2006). Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.) in Turkey: growing regions and pomological traits of cactus pear fruit. Acta Hortic. 728, 51–54. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.728.5.

• Callahan, A.N. (2003). Breeding for fruit quality. Acta Hortic. 622, 295–302. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.622.27.

• Chessa, I., and Nieddu, G. (1997). Descriptors for cactus pear (Opuntia spp.). Cactusnet Newsletter (Sassari, Italy: Tipografia Moderna).

• Claassens, A.S., and Wessels, A.B. (1997). The fertilizer requirements of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) under summer rainfall conditions in South Africa. Acta Hortic. 438, 83–96. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.438.10.

• De Wit, M., Nel, P., Osthooff, G., and Labuschagne, M.T. (2010). The effect of variety and location on cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit quality. Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 65(2), 136–145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-010-0163-7.

• FAO (2013). Agro-Industrial Utilization of Cactus Pear (Rome: Rural Infrastructure and Agro Industrial Division, FAO).

• Felker, P., Soulier, C., Leguizamon, G., and Ochoa, J.A. (2002). Comparison of the fruit parameters of 12 Opuntia clones grown in Argentina and the United States. J. Arid Environ. 52, 361–370. https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.2002.1001.

• Galizzi, F.A., Felker, P., Gonzales, C., and Gardiner, D. (2004). Correlation between soil and cladode nutrient concentrations and fruit yield and quality in cactus pears Opuntia ficus-indica in a traditional farm setting in Argentina. J. Arid Environ. 59, 115–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2004.01.015.

• Inglese, P. (2010). Cactus pear Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. for fruit production: an overview. In Improved Utilization of Cactus Pear for Food, Feed, Soil and Water Conservation and Other Products in Africa, A. Nefzaoui, P. Inglese, and T. Belay, eds. Cactusnet Newsletter, special issue 12.

• Jorge Zegbe, A., Serna Perez, A., and Mena Covarrubias, J. (2014). Mineral nutrition enhances yield and affects fruit quality of ‘Cristalina’ cactus pear. Sci. Hortic. (Amsterdam) 167, 63–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2013.12.023.

• Karababa, E., Coskumer, Y., and Aksay, S. (2004). Some physical properties of cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) that grows wild in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. J. Prof. Ass. for Cactus Dev. 6, 1–8.

• Karim, M.R., Felker, P., and Bingham, R.L. (1998). Correlations between cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) cladode nutrient concentrations and fruit yield and quality. Ann. Arid Zone 37, 159–171.

• Maataoui-Belabbes, S., and Hilali, S. (2004). Caractérisation physico-chimique de jus de deux types de fruits de figuier de barbarie (Opuntia ficus-indica) cultivés au Maroc. Rev. in Biol. and Biotechnol. 3(2), 8–13.

• Mashope, B.K. (2007). Characterization of cactus pear germplasm in South Africa. Thesis (Free State, South Africa: University of the Free State), 149 pp.

• Mimouni, A., Ait Lhaj, A., and Ghazi, M. (2013). Mineral nutrition effect on cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica spp.) growth and development. Acta Hortic. 995, 213–220. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.995.24.

• Mokoboki, K., Kgama, T., and Mmbi, N. (2009). Evaluation of cactus pear fruit quality at Mara ADL, South Africa. Afr. J. Agric. Res. 4(1), 28–32.

• Nerd, A., and Mizrahi, Y. (2010). Reproductive biology of cactus fruit crops. Hortic. Rev. (Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci.) 18, 321–346.

• Ochoa, M.J., and Uhart, S.A. (2006). Nitrogen availability and fruit yield generation in cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica): III. Effects on fruit yield and dry matter allocation to reproductive sinks. Acta Hortic. 728, 131–136. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.728.17.

• Ochoa, M.J., Leguizamon, G., and Uhart, S.A. (2006). Nitrogen availability and fruit yield generation in cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica): IV. Effects on fruit quality. Acta Hortic. 728, 137–144. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.728.18.

• Potgieter, J.P. (2007). The influence of environmental factors on spineless cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) fruit yield in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Magister Scientiae Agriculturae (Bloemfontein, South Africa: University of the Free State), 121 pp.

• Reyes-Aguero, J.A., Aguirre, J.R., and Valiente-Banuet, A. (2006). Reproductive biology of Opuntia: a review. J. Arid Environ. 64, 549–585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2005.06.018.

• Segantini, D.M., Torres, L.A., Boliani, A.C., and Leonel, S. (2010). Phenology of cactus pear in Selviria – MS State, Brazil. Rev. Bras. Frutic. 32(2), 630–636. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-29452010005000049.

• Valdez-Cepeda, R.D., Magallanes-Quintanar, R., Blanco-Macías, F., Hernández-Caraballo, E.A., and García-Hernández, J.L. (2013).Comparison among boltzmann and cubic polynomial models for estimation of compositional nutrient diagnosis standards: Opuntia ficus-indica L. case. J. Plant Nutr. 36(6), 895–910. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2013.770020.

Received: 3 March 2017 | Accepted: 14 June 2017 | Published: 18 August 2017 | Available online: 18 August 2017