Productivity, bromatological composition and economic benefits of using irrigation in the forage cactus under regulated deficit irrigation in a semiarid environment

The use of irrigation can improve the productivity and nutritional quality forage cactus in environments with a water deficit, resulting profit to producer. productive performance, bromatological composition economic benefits using were investigated this study clones regulated deficit (RDI). was conducted an experimental design randomised blocks, factorial scheme subdivided plots. plots consisted regimes based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc) (rainfed, 40, 80 120% ETc). [‘Miúda’ (MIU), ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’ (OEM) ‘IPA Sertânia’ (IPA)] comprised subplots. total number cladodes per plant, fresh dry matter yields evaluated. Economic viability assessed net revenue benefit cost ratio (BCR). depths did not increase yield clones. OEM clone showed 276 343% greater production, respectively, when compared IPA clone; however, MIU clone, it 63%, both production. had no effect cactus. Only during first cycle (BCR < 1). It be concluded that planting one irrigated hectare offer returns starting from production (18 months).