Abstract

CAMPOS, Hernán et al. Recovery and Valuation of Cactus, for Forage Purposes, as a Way of Adaptation to Climate Change and to Support Animal Production in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Bolivia. Rev. Cien. Tec. In. [online]. 2016, vol.13, n.14, pp.815-826. ISSN 2225-8787.

By2014,theCIF "La Violeta" began working with prickly-pear plant (Opuntia spp.) as an alternative forage food for arid and semi arid areas of Cochabamba "suffering climate change effects", specifically some small villages of the Pasorapa Municipality. The prickly-pear plant is a species that survives under low rainfall conditions, producing green forage throughout the year, and contributing with a significant amount of water. The prickly-pear plant is an undervalued forage species in Pasorapa, where the main source of livestock feed is the native vegetation, which is seriously affected by drought and overgrazing. Cattle lacks adequate food supply during a long time of the year, causing cattle malnutrition, production losses and animal deaths. Under this considerations and acknowledging a poor regional and national experience on the utilization of the prickly-pear plant as a forage supply, the project activities were main guidelines for using that species as a forage food. The project's main results were: 67 types of prickly-pear plants collected in different areas of Bolivia, two ex-situ conservation field plots, identification of four potentially forage type plants among the collected types, determination of optimum plant population density, determination of optimum organic and chemical fertilization levels for yield improvement. It is also important to mention that two mother orchards with high quality type of plants were established; those field plots will provide high quality prickly-pear plants to farmers, in areas with limited forage production because of the climate change effects; in this case, Opuntia spp. becomes a real alternative to mitigate climate change negative effects.

Keywords : Opuntia spp; Adapting to climate change; Forage.

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