Effects of herbicides and cultivation on the growth of Opuntia in plantations

SummaryLandraces of the genus Opuntia (Cactaceae) are important in semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean area and in Mexico, Argentina, and Chile where they provide animal fodder, and fruits and vegetable material for human use. There is little literature on current cultivars or horticultural practices for use in these plantings. Opuntia plantations when not cultivated have a low productivity. Due to the great reduction in cactus growth by weeds and the tediousness in hand weeding spiny cactus germplasm collections, herbicides were evaluated for use in Opuntia plantings. Multiple combinations of eight herbicides (hexazinone, tebuthiuron, simazine, diuron, bromacil, oryzalin, oxyfluorfen, and metolachlor) and a mechanical cultivation treatment were examined for their effect on the biomass production and survival of Opuntia lindheimeri. The vegetative cover measured 7 months from planting ranged from 0.1% to 83%. Biomass was measured by complete harvest 14 months after planting and ranged from 511 kg ha−1 ...