The Nopalea forage cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera) is the main xerophilic species cultivated in Brazil, highlighted as a compatible biological element with the semiarid environment. However, studies on its physiological aspects are still scarce. In this context, an experiment was performed in the Pendência Experimental Station, belonging to the State Company of Agricultural Research of Paraíba (EMEPA-PB), municipality of Soledade, state of Paraíba, Brazil, aiming to evaluate the gas exchanges and the water-use efficiency of intercropped Nopalea Cochenillifera plants in the soil under different edaphic managements. The treatments were distributed in randomized blocks, with three replications in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme, corresponding to the soil without and with mulch and five types of cultivation of Nopalea forage cactus, in monoculture and intercropped with forage watermelon, millet, sorghum, and buffelgrass. The analyzed variables were: stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, net photosynthesis rate, and internal CO2 concentration, besides the instantaneous water-use efficiency, intrinsic water-use efficiency, and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency. The use of soil mulch satisfactorily increased the photosynthetic rate of the forage cactus; this type of practice can aid in the productive development of the crop in semiarid zones, whereas the intercropping with buffelgrass and forage watermelon stimulated photosynthesis and the water-use efficiency.

Pasta, a globally cherished staple food, is consumed on a wide scale. However, conventional wheat-based pasta often lacks nutrients that can be incorporated to add value to the new product. To address this nutritional deficiency and enhance the health benefits for consumers, a promising approach is to incorporate Opuntia ficus-indica flour as a partial substitute for wheat flour. The primary objective of this study was to craft enriched tagliatelle pasta using Opuntia ficus-indica flour. The evaluation encompassed an assessment of physical-chemical attributes, color quality, cooking properties, texture profile analysis (TPA), and the analysis of bioactive compounds within the pasta products. Upon conclusion of the experiments, the F10 formulation, comprising 10% Opuntia ficus-indica flour, emerged as the most favorable pasta option. It exhibited an acceptable acidity level of 3.71% and demonstrated remarkable nutritional characteristics. These findings suggest that this formulation could serve as a promising alternative for the production of health-conscious pasta.

Water scarcity in semiarid regions represents a critical challenge for sustainable agriculture, reducing the availability of forage and affecting livestock systems. The reuse of treated wastewater offers an environmentally friendly alternative to meet water and nutrient needs, supporting the principles of the circular economy. Sweet sorghum, with its remarkable tolerance to abiotic stress, represents a resilient crop option. Evaluating its agronomic and industrial responses to different depths of irrigation using reclaimed water is essential for improving resource-efficient agricultural practices in water-limited environments. This study evaluated the effects of different irrigation regimes with treated wastewater on the growth, productivity, and water use efficiency of sweet sorghum grown in a semiarid region of Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design, with five irrigation regimes ranging from 50% to 150% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and four replications. Irrigation was carried out with treated wastewater using a drip irrigation system. Growth parameters, fresh biomass, water use efficiency, and soluble solids content (°Brix) were analyzed in two consecutive harvests (main and ratoon crop). Deficit irrigation regimes (50% and 75% of ETc) resulted in higher water use efficiency and higher °Brix, whereas regimes above 100% of ETc reduced water use efficiency and biomass productivity. The ratoon crop showed greater sensitivity to water management, with significant productivity responses under irrigation around 100% of ETc. The first harvest was more productive in terms of fresh biomass and plant growth. Reclaimed water is a sustainable and efficient strategy for cultivating sweet sorghum in semiarid regions. Deficit irrigation regimes can be technically viable for maximizing water use efficiency and production quality, while proper irrigation management is crucial to avoiding losses associated with excessive water application.

The study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of nutrient use in three cactus forage (CF) cultivars (Opuntia stricta and Nopalea cochenillifera), 365 days after planting under different types of fertilizer in two research sites (Condado and Riachão) of the semi-arid region of Paraiba state, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block design with treatments in a factorial scheme (3×4), three cultivars of CF (Orelha de elefante Mexicana; Miúda; Bahiana), and four fertilizer treatment (Control; Manure; Manure with Nitrogen; Mineral fertilization) with four replications. The CF cultivars did not differ significantly in nutrient use. That means of physio-logical efficiency by CF cultivars were 1.62, and 2.36 kg of biomass per kg of nutrient applied in Condado and Riachão, respectively. The efficiency of nutrient recovery was 16% for the Condado, according the following order: K> P> Ca> N> C = Mg and 12% for Riachão: K> P> N> C = Ca = Mg. In the two research sites, the treatment with mineral fertilization significantly increased the efficiency use of N, P and K in comparison to the other treatments. The average for efficiency of nutrient utilization was 25% and 19% for Condado and Riachão, respectively, in the following order for Condado: K> P> N> Ca = Mg> C, and Riachão: K> P> N> C> Mg = Ca. In a CF production system aiming to obtain a yearly harvest cycle, it is necessary to replenish of K and P to maintain the nutritional balance between the soil and CF plant.

The detection and monitoring of changes in land use and land cover play a crucial role in understanding land degradation and are fundamental to preserving agroecosystems. Their association with hydrological information allows essential responses to changes in hydrological patterns to be identified, contributing to water security in watersheds. Therefore, this study aimed to assess spatio-temporal dynamics and physico-hydrological trends in rainfall, runoff and land use in the Paraíba watershed. The study was conducted in the Paraíba watershed, using land use data and information from pluviometric and fluviometric stations with temporal series of more than 30 years. The Mann-Kendall statistical test was adopted to verify trends. Results indicate annual reduction trends for both native forest area and water bodies in the Paraíba watershed. On the other hand, the area designated for agriculture showed a significant increase. The correlation analysis between water bodies and forests (R² = 0.63) highlights a strong association between the decrease in forest area and the reduction in water availability, influencing the decrease in annual flow. These results serve as a warning to expand water resource management for the region, aiming to preserve and to enhance sustainable use. Therefore, the implementation of conservation measures, monitoring procedures, and adequate management is required to face the challenges imposed by climate change and land use and occupation, ensuring the water availability for the future.