DESERTIFICATION » Opuntia ficus-indica

Please see my new video on : Spineless Opuntia to combat desertification http://youtu.be/27dBvxZQ2zk This spineless, edible cactus is a very interesting plant for smallholder farmers in the drylands. Easy to grow from vegetative paddles, growing with a minimum of water … Continue reading →

Today, I received a very interesting mail from Rodrigo WAYLAND M. : ” I read your articles about cactus and its application in deserts http://desertification.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/a-perfect-anti-desertification-plant-the-spineless-prickly-pear-willem-van-cotthem/ Do you know the biogas cactus? We are building power plants with cactus for 10 … Continue reading →

VIDEO SEEN AT : http://youtu.be/wnWJU6lXps8 PRODUCIRAN ENERGIA ELECTRICA A PARTIR DE BIOMASA DE NOPAL Estado donde se pretende realizar este proyecto: Zacatecas, en el distrito de Desarrollo Rural 188, con sede en el Municipio de Ojocaliente.

VIDEO SEEN AT : http://youtu.be/Ovn9dQc76XE SEBRAE Sergipe – Plantio Tecnológico de Palmas Plantação de Palmas Origem: Sergipe – Brasil Nopal is native to the Americas. It is used as fodder for the animals and as staple food for humans in … Continue reading →

VIDEO SEEN AT : http://youtu.be/9x24oxQZSVc Conheça os benefícios da palma na dieta dos ruminantes (Learn about the benefits of palm in the diet of ruminants) Renata Saturnino

Please check my newest video : http://youtu.be/xsnBWBIek2g Opuntia for food and fodder The well-known prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a fantastic plant species to combat land degradation (desertification). It grows on almost all the arid and semi-arid soils and … Continue reading →

Read at : http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jan12/cactus0112.htm Published in the January 2012 issue of Agricultural Research magazine. Using Cactus as a Bioremediation Tool The west side of the San Joaquin Valley in California presents several challenges to growers. Ancient seas that once covered … Continue reading →

Read at : Google Alert – Opuntia ficus-indica http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2012/02/13/will-nopal-cactus-help-control-blood-sugar/ Will Nopal Cactus Help Control Blood Sugar? Home Remedy Q&A Q. What do you know about the medicinal properties of nopal cactus? A. Nopal or prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) has … Continue reading →

Read at : http://alcoholreports.blogspot.com/2012/03/protective-effect-of-opuntia-ficus.html Protective effect of Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis prickly pear juice upon ethanol-induced damages in rat erythrocytes Juice from the fruit of the cactus Opuntia ficus indica is claimed to possess several health-beneficial properties. The present … Continue reading →

Read at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121130110702.htm ScienceDaily (Nov. 30, 2012) — When people hear about exotic plants invading a new environment, there is usually a negative connotation, according to biology faculty member Matthew Heard in an article published in the journal Ecology Letters. … Continue reading →

It remains a remarkable fact that exotic plants are generally seen as potential invaders of the native flora, while adventive exotic invaders of harbours, airports and railway stations do not get that stigma. What do we mean by “adventive … Continue reading →

Today, I received a message of Oliver BARNES concerning the feasibility of producing Opuntia in a drought-affected country. Here is my reply : Dear Oliver, Thanks for contacting me. First of all, I have never been involved in any aspect … Continue reading →

Read at : http://www.icarda.cgiar.org/blog/whats-new-on-icarda Prickly pear cactus – a new livestock fodder variety is drought-resistant, salt-tolerant, and saves water Spineless prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica var. inermis) in the suburbs of Algiers. This variety can be found in almost every country … Continue reading →

A MESSAGE FROM FABIO RUIZ I saw today your post http://desertification.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/there-should-be-a-magnificent-future-for-the-spineless-opuntia-in-the-drylands-willem-van-cotthem/ and I agree with your answer to Oliver. I want to tell you that in my blog the most visited post is this one relative to opuntia: http://colotlan.wordpress.com/?s=como+plantar+nopal which … Continue reading →

Read at : http://peoplesdailyng.com/how-not-to-fight-desertification/ How not to fight desertification By Ambrose Inusa Sule, mnes In 2010, the Federal Ministry of Environment placed advertisement in several national newspapers for qualified contractors to apply and bid for the establishment of cactus plantations … Continue reading →

Read at : Google Alerts – Opuntia ficus-indica http://www.foodandnutritionresearch.net/index.php/fnr/article/view/19106 Intake of dehydrated nopal (Opuntia ficus indica) improves bone mineral density and calciuria in adult Mexican women María de los Angeles Aguilera-Barreiro, José Alberto Rivera-Márquez, Héctor Miguel Trujillo-Arriaga, Juan Alfredo Tamayo … Continue reading →

Read at : Dave’s Garden http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/4238/#ixzz2UnceVko0 Opuntia ficus-indica , the Indian fig cactus, may be the most economically important cactus. It is used or has been used for food, medicine, livestock feed, fencing, an ornamental, and an indirect source of … Continue reading →

Article published by Fabio RUIZ (some English additions by Willem Van Cotthem) http://colotlan.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/como-plantar-nopal/ Cómo plantar nopal (How to plant the spineless prickly pear cactus) by Eukalo Lo primero es seleccionar el ejemplar del que vamos a obtener la planta, que tenga muchas … Continue reading →

Today, I received an interesting comment on my video : http://www.instructables.com/id/Spineless-Opuntia-to-Combat-Desertification/ Spineless Opuntia to Combat Desertification “This spineless, edible cactus is a very interesting plant for smallholder farmers in the drylands. Easy to grow from vegetative paddles, growing with a … Continue reading →

Spineless prickly pear against desertification (Willem Van Cotthem / You Tube)

Desertification: nopal cactus more efficient than Jatropha for the drylands – (Got Powered / Elqui Global Energy / Rodrigo WAYLAND M.)

Production of electricity from nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica) biomass (BAJOLATORRE)

Large-scale plantation of nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica) in Brazil – (sebraesergipe)

Benefits of the Opuntia cactus (nopal) in the diet of ruminants (Renata Saturnino)

Prosopis, Opuntia and Argania : interesting species for desertlike regions (Willem Van Cotthem)

Opuntia (prickly pear) for people in the drylands (Willem VAN COTTHEM)

Prickly pear : drought and salt tolerant varieties (USDA/ARS)

A staple crop that should be grown in all the drylands : Opuntia ficus-indica var. inermis, the spineless prickly pear (Google / The People’s Pharmacy)

Juice from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) : health-beneficial properties (Alcohol Reports)

How Native Plants and Exotics Coexist (Science Daily)

To be or not to be a noxious invader (Willem VAN COTTHEM)

There should be a magnificent future for the spineless Opuntia in the drylands (Willem Van Cotthem)

Prickly pear cactus – a new livestock fodder variety (ICARDA)

Cómo plantar nopal. (Colotlán y sus árboles) – (Spanish)

Establishment of cactus plantations to fight erosion, drought and desertification in Nigeria (Google / People’s Daily)

Spineless nopales (Opuntia ficus-indica var. inermis) to be used at the global level to combat desertification (Google / Food and Nutrition Research)

Opuntia ficus-indica may be the most economically important cactus

Cómo plantar nopal forrajero sin espinas / How to plant the spineless prickly pear cactus (Colotlan y sus Arboles / Fabio RUIZ / Willem Van Cotthem)

Is the spineless variety of the prickly pear cactus really edible ? (Willem Van Cotthem)