Fuente: ISHS (International Society for Horticultural Science) Post date: Wednesday 3 September 2025
Author:
ISHS Secretariat

As part of my doctoral dissertation, this study sought to investigate how the age of Opuntia ficus-indica orchards affected soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization in Mediterranean drylands. The work was conducted in Sicily (Italy), where cactus pear is not only a resilient crop, but also a key component of local agro-ecosystems. The study focused on two contrasting soil textures: loamy-clay and sandy-loam, across a chronosequence of Opuntia ficus-indica orchards aged 1 to 30 years. Using a chronosequence approach, soil samples were collected from three depths (0-15, 15-30, and 30-60 cm). Laboratory incubations were performed to measure carbon mineralization rates (CMIN), expressed as CO₂-C release. The results showed that mineralization significantly increased with orchard age, particularly in surface soils. In older orchards, the highest microbial activity and carbon turnover was observed, indicating an accumulation of labile carbon over time. Interestingly, the clay-rich soils promoted deeper carbon cycling, while the sandy soils showed earlier stratification in the top layers. The research results demonstrate how long-term cactus pear cultivation can enhance SOC dynamics, supporting microbial processes and improving soil quality under water-limited conditions. The data suggest that O. ficus-indica functions not only as a low-input crop for food and forage, but also as a biological tool for regenerating degraded soils and mitigating climate change through enhanced carbon cycling. This work shows that it is possible to produce food while simultaneously building soil life and restoring degraded landscapes. This project would not have been possible without the invaluable guidance of Professor José Carlos Batista Dubeux Jr., Professor Paolo Inglese, and Professor Giorgia Liguori.
Giuseppe Greco won the ISHS Young Minds Award for the best oral presentation at the XI International Congress on Cacti as Food, Fodder and Other Uses in Tenerife, Spain, in May 2025.
Giuseppe Greco, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy, e-mail: giuseppe.greco03@unipa.it
The article is available in Chronica HorticulturaeTags: Opuntia ficus-indicaCategories: Young Minds Award Winners