Opuntia ellisiana Griffiths as livestock feed in areas similar to USDA cold hardiness zones 6-7

The present review compiles the studies carried out so far on Opuntia ellisiana Griffiths. This species, of unknown origin, was first described at the beginning of the 20th century in southern Texas, USA, and introduced to Argentina in 1998. This species, like other Opuntia sps., can be cultivated in a wide range of environments and its lower transpiration per unit of carbon gained in relation to C3 and C4, has lead to in an important increase in water-use efficiency. While O. ellisiana has a lower growth and productivity than O. ficus-indica (L.) Mill. it stands out for its resistance to sub-zero temperatures. Fortunately, the intraspecies variation within O. ellisiana, shortens the time for its use after establishment. There is a wide variation in the nutrient content between the different forage species and clones of Opuntia. Due to the inherently low N availability in arid ecosystems, O. ellisiana, like the other species, has low protein content in natural unfertilized conditions. Some efforts, as the use of N-fertilizer, have been carried out to improve its protein level. About 15% protein levels have been obtained with other Opuntias. Other research has been directed to provide a favorable abiotic environment for a cactus to achieve higher biomass productivity and improved protein levels by interacting with nurse plants, such as Prosopis sps. The last alternative resulted in a significant increase in protein content and cladode quantity per plant of O. ellisiana.The present review compiles the studies carried out so far on Opuntia ellisiana Griffiths. This species, of unknown origin, was first described at the beginning of the 20th century in southern Texas, USA, and introduced to Argentina in 1998. This species, like other Opuntia sps., can be cultivated in a wide range of environments and its lower transpiration per unit of carbon gained in relation to C3 and C4, has lead to in an important increase in water-use efficiency. While O. ellisiana has a lower growth and productivity than O. ficus-indica (L.) Mill. it stands out for its resistance to sub-zero temperatures. Fortunately, the intraspecies variation within O. ellisiana, shortens the time for its use after establishment. There is a wide variation in the nutrient content between the different forage species and clones of Opuntia. Due to the inherently low N availability in arid ecosystems, O. ellisiana, like the other species, has low protein content in natural unfertilized conditions. Some efforts, as the use of N-fertilizer, have been carried out to improve its protein level. About 15% protein levels have been obtained with other Opuntias. Other research has been directed to provide a favorable abiotic environment for a cactus to achieve higher biomass productivity and improved protein levels by interacting with nurse plants, such as Prosopis sps. The last alternative resulted in a significant increase in protein content and cladode quantity per plant of O. ellisiana

Cactus (Opuntia sps.) como forraje en las tierras secas de Argentina

Studies on cactus carried out mainly in Mendoza plain, Argentina, and in other country areas were reported. Variations in nutrient contents with three cladode age classes were examined for seven Opuntia forage clones. For all age classes combined, clones showed high organic matter: 84.4%, in vitro organic matter digestibility: 78.9% and low crude protein (CP) content: 4.0%. High doses of fertilizer almost doubled the mean CP content of the cladodes from O. ficus-indica (L.) Mill. x O. lindheimerii Engelm. cross when it was compared with the treatment in which no fertilizer was added (7.8 and 4.3%, respectively). The response to fertilization at the highest application rate was near 4-fold increase over the biomass of the zero fertilization treatment, 3.2 to 12.7 kg DM plant-1. Of this cross, clone 42 produced a dry matter (DM) biomass of 40 t DM ha-1 in 4 years with a total of 625 mm rainfall which is the greatest DM production recorded to date for such a low rainfall. O. spinulifera Salm-Dyck f. nacuniana Le Houér. appears to be the most promising species for forage production in areas with extremely cold winters. Clones 46, 80, 83, 89 and 94 had zero frost damage. Economic analysis of Opuntia plantations and the use of cactus for replacing corn in small ruminant diet were included. The cost-benefit relationship of using pre-emergent herbicides on biomass production and fertilizer application on biomass production and protein levels were analyzed. The cactus/corn cost relationship indicated the possibility of replacing corn by cactus in small ruminant diet.Se informan las conclusiones de los estudios realizados principalmente en la llanura de Mendoza, Argentina, y en otras áreas del país. Las variaciones en los contenidos de nutrientes en tres clases de edad de cladodios se examinaron para siete clones forrajeros de Opuntia. Para todas las clases de edad combinadas, los clones mostraron altos valores de materia orgánica: 84,4% y digestibilidad in vitro de materia seca: 78,9% y bajo contenido de proteína bruta (PB): 4,0%. Altas dosis de fertilizante casi duplicaron el contenido medio de PB de los cladodios del cruzamiento entre O. ficus-indica (L.) Mill. y O. lindheimerii Engelm, cuando el mismo fue comparado con el tratamiento en que no se agregaron fertilizantes (7,8 y 4,3%, respectivamente), mientras que la biomasa se incrementó en aproximadamente 4 veces respecto del control no fertilizado (3,2 a 12,7 kg MS planta-1). El clon 42 de este cruzamiento produjo una biomasa de 40 t de MS ha-1 en 4 años con un total de 625 mm de precipitación, la cual es la producción de MS más alta registrada hasta el presente para tal baja lluvia. O. spinulifera Salm-Dyck f. nacuniana Le Houér. Parece ser la especie más promisoria para la producción de forraje en áreas con inviernos extremadamente fríos. Los clones 46, 80, 83, 89 y 94 no tuvieron daño por heladas. Se incluyeron los análisis económicos de las plantaciones de Opuntia y el uso de cactus para reemplazar al maíz en la dieta de pequeños rumiantes. Se analizó la relación costo-beneficio del uso de herbicidas pre-emergentes sobre la producción de biomasa y de la aplicación de fertilizantes sobre la producción de biomasa y niveles de proteínas. La relación de costos cactus/maíz indicó la posibilidad de reemplazar al maíz por cactus en la dieta de pequeños rumiantes.Fil: Grünwaldt, Josefina María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Guevara, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Grünwaldt, Eduardo Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Martínez Carretero, Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica

Efecto de Prosopis spp. como planta nodriza sobre el contenido de nutrientes y la productividad de Opuntia ellisiana Griffiths

In arid conditions, the low quality of the forage and water shortage could be attenuated by the introduction of Opuntia species. Several plant species grows well under Prosopis canopy, responding to a higher nutrient content in the soil, It was hypothesized that productivity and nutrient content, mainly crude protein (CP), of Opuntia ellisiana planted under Prosopis would be higher than of those planted outside the canopy, and that these parameters would be influenced by the cactus position: north or south from the centre of the tree. Sampling was done in 18 plants under the canopy of Prosopis and 23 outside of it. After one year of the plantation, the totality of cladodes was harvested. The productivity per plant was 3.1 and 5.7 cladodes and 34.9 and 48.1 g of dry matter (DM), outside and under the canopy, respectively. The bromatological values (%) were moisture: 89.1 and 91.9, organic matter (OM): 76.7 and 79.8, CP: 4.4 and 8.1, acid detergent fiber (ADF): 13.7 and 18.2, neutral detergent fiber (NDF): 29.0 and 31.5, K: 3.1 and 3.6, P: 0.07 and 0.11, Ca: 5.5 and 4.4, Na: 0.04 and 0.02, outside and under the canopy, respectively. Crude protein, moisture, OM, ADF, NDF, K, P and productivity per plant were higher under the canopy, whereas Ca and Na values were higher outside the canopy (p&lt;0.05). Magnesium (1.9 and 1.9%) was not affected by the position outside or under the canopy. The north or south orientation did not influence any of the analysed parameters.En condiciones de aridez, la baja calidad del forraje y la escasez de agua podrían ser atenuadas con la introducción de especies de Opuntia. Varias especies tienen buen crecimiento bajo la canopia de Prosopis spp., respondiendo a un contenido más alto de nutrientes en el suelo. Se hipotetizó que la productividad y el contenido de nutrientes, principalmente proteína cruda (PC), de Opuntia ellisiana establecidas bajo la canopia de Prosopis serían más altos que los implantados fuera de la misma y que estos parámetros serían influenciados por la posición del cactus: norte o sur respecto del centro del árbol. Se muestrearon 18 plantas de cactus bajo la canopia y otras fuera de la misma. Después de un año de crecimiento, se cosechó la totalidad de los cladodios. La productividad por planta fue 3,1 y 5,7 cladodios y 34,9 y 48,1 g de materia seca (MS), fuera y bajo la canopia, respectivamente. Los valores bromatológicos (%) fueron humedad: 89,1 y 91,9, materia orgánica (MO): 76,7 y 79,8, PC: 4,4 y 8,1, fibra detergente ácida (FDA): 13,7 y 18,2, fibra detergente neutra (FDN): 29,0 y 31,5, K: 3,1 y 3,6, P: 0,07 y 0,11, Ca: 5,5 y 4,4, Na: 0,04 y 0,02, bajo y fuera de la canopia, respectivamente. Proteína cruda, humedad, MO, FDA, FDN, K, P y productividad por planta fueron más altas bajo la canopia, mientras que los valores de Ca y Na fueron más altos fuera de la canopia (p&lt;0.05). Magnesio (1,9 y 1,9%) no fue afectado por la posición bajo y fuera de la canopia, respectivamente. La orientación norte o sur no influenció los parámetros analizados.Fil: Grünwaldt, Josefina María. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas Fil: Guevara, Juan Carlos. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas Fil: Martínez Carretero, Eduardo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas Fil: Grünwaldt, Eduardo Guillermo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas <IADIZA

Pastoralism in the drylands of Latin America: Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Peru

SummaryThis article discusses various aspects of pastoralism in the Latin Americancountries with the largest dryland areas. The topics covered include: social,economic and institutional issues; grasslands and their carrying capacity;production systems and productivity rates; competition for forage resourcesbetween domestic livestock and wildlife; and the health status of livestock andwildlife. Most grasslands exhibit some degree of degradation. The percentage ofoffspring reaching weaning age is low: 47-66% of calves and 40-80% of lambs.Some pastoralists adopt patterns of transhumance. In the main, pastoralistsexperience a high poverty rate and have poor access to social services. Formany pastoralists, wildlife is a source of food and by-products. Argentina, Chile,Mexico and Peru have animal health control agencies, are members of theWorld Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and have signed the United NationsConvention to Combat Desertification. Pastoral systems subsist mainly on incomeunrelated to pastoral farming. The OIE recognises all four countries as free frominfection with peste des petits ruminants virus, and from rinderpest and Africanhorse sickness. It is difficult to predict the future of pastoralism in Latin Americabecause the situation differs from country to country. For instance, pastoralismis more important in Peru than in Argentina, where it is a more marginal activity.In the future, lack of promotion and protection policies could lead to a decline inpastoralism or to an adverse environmental impact on drylands.Fil: Grünwaldt, Josefina María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Castellaro, G.. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Flores, E. R.. Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina; ChileFil: Morales Nieto, C. R.. Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua; MéxicoFil: Valdez Cepeda. R. D.. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo; MéxicoFil: Guevara, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Grunwaldt, Eduardo Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; Argentin