Morphological and productive responses of cactus pear cv. Mexican elephant ear under different planting densities

The aim was to evaluate the morphological and productive responses of cactus cv. Mexican elephant ear (Opuntia stricta Haw.) under different crop densities and days after planting. This was a randomised block design consisting of four treatments of planting densities (30.000; 45.000; 60.000 and 75.000 plants/ha) with four replications. Morphological characteristics, phenology, growth and production rates were evaluated, such as: total number of cladodes (TNC), primary cladode length (PCL), secondary cladode width (SCW), cladode area index (CAI), net assimilation rates (NAR) and the productive characteristics of fresh matter (FMP) and dry matter (DMP). There was an effect of densities (P < 0.001) at 120 DAP on TNC. At 240 DAP, there was an effect (P < 0.05) of densities on PCL and SCW. There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on plant height at 360 DAP. A quadratic model was fit (P < 0.05) for data of SCW at 240 DAP. The densities of 30.000; 45.000 and 75.000 plants/ha showed three phenophases. Densities of 75.000 plants/ha showed higher CAI, while net assimimilation rates was similar for densities of 60.000 and 75.000 plants/ha. The increase in planting density shortens the cactus pear phenophase and alters the morphological characteristics, however its production increases.