Intercropping forage cactus with sorghum affects the morphophysiology and phenology of forage cactus

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate morphophysiological indices, phenology and cutting time of forage cactus (Opuntia and Nopalea spp.) clones intercropped with sorghum cultivars (Sorghum bicolor). The experiment was carried out from 2017 to 2018, in two cropping systems (monocropping and intercropping), comprising 12 treatments, consisted of three cactus clones: ‘IPA Sertânia’—IPA, ‘Miúda’—Miu and ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’— OEM, in a monocropping system and nine combinations the cacti and sorghum (cultivars 467, SF11 and 2502) to comprise each of the intercropping systems. Cladodes morphophysiological indices were obtained: absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate (NAR), specific cladode area rate (SCAR) and the cladode area index rate. OEM showed higher absolute growth rates at the beginning of the cycle, compared with IPA and Miu. NAR was higher in the monocropped OEM and in the OEM-2502 intercrop than under all the IPA and Miu systems (monocropping and intercropping), but the SCAR rate was higher for IPA (monocrop and intercropped). Miu showed a shorter duration of phenophase 2, but OEM had a higher rate of cladode emission during this phase. Cactus-sorghum intercropping systems cause a significant reduction in growth rates of the forage cactus. Intercropping has an earlier cutting time than the monocropping.