Impact of weather and soil conditions on Opuntia stricta and Nopalea cochenillifera growth and forage yield in the Brazilian dryland

Opuntia and Nopalea (Cactaceae) are plants well-adapted to a semi-arid environment and can be utilized for multiple purposes. However, weather and soil conditions can influence their morpho- physiology and growth. Understanding these effects is essential for developing management practices that enhance production effi- ciency. This study was conducted under real-world conditions at 12 locations in Brazil to investigate morphophysiological traits, forage production, and water use efficiency of two species: Opuntia stricta [Haw.] Haw. cultivar ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’ (OEM) and Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck cultivar ‘Miuda’. No significant differ- ences were observed between species for forage yield (average 13,587 kg dry matter (DM) ha−1), water use efficiency (2.11 g DM kg H2O−1), or forage accumulation (38.8 kg DM ha−1 d−1). However, mor- phological differences were noted, with N. cochenillifera exhibiting a greater number of cladodes (16.9 per plant) and O. stricta develop- ing larger cladodes (0.04 kg DM) and a higher cladode leaf area index (1.15 m2 m−2). Forage yield was positively associated with rain- fall and soil organic carbon (r = 0.39, p < 0.001; r = 0.34, p < 0.01). Conversely, electrical conductivity and sodium content were inversely related to both the forage accumulation rate (r = −0.43, p < 0.001; r = −0.36, p < 0.001) and water use efficiency (r = −0.32, p < 0.01; r = −0.27, p < 0.05). The soil bulk density also showed a negative correlation to forage yield and forage accumulation rate (r = −0.32, p < 0.01; r = −0.35, p < 0.001). Rainfall variability and soil organic car- bon were important key factors influencing O. stricta and N. coche- nillifera morphology and productivity, while the high soil bulk density, electrical conductivity, and sodium content were detrimen- tal to forage production.