Abstract:
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) commonly referred to as cactus pear is a dicotyledonous
angiosperm plant. It belongs to the Cactaceae family and is characterized by its remarkable
adaptation to arid and semi-arid climates in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe.
Opuntia species have developed phenological, physiological and structural adaptations for
growth and survival in arid and semi-arid environments where severe water stress hinders the
survival of other plant species. Among these adaptations, the asynchronous reproduction and
CAM metabolism of cactus stands out, which combined with structural adaptations such as
succulence, allow them to continue the assimilation of carbon dioxide during long periods of
drought reaching acceptable productivity levels even in years of severe drought. Soil
physical, chemical and biological properties are considerably improved under the canopies of
cactus pear compared to adjacent open areas. The generalized linear model showed that soil
organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, soil available phosphorus, soil moisture, soil bacteria and
soil fungi contents of soil samples were positively and significantly influenced by cactus pear
canopy cover compared to adjacent open areas. The higher nutrient content under the cactus
pear canopy was also positively associated with abundance of soil bacteria and fungi which
facilitated the decomposition of organic materials.
