I use opuntia pads in semi anaerobic compost water barrels, it makes a supreme liquid fert. pack them in tight and fill with water. you dont even have to cover it. within 2 months you have nutrient ready water for all kinds of fruit trees. its a fantastic plant for its ability to grab nutrients from deep down in your soil (like a tree). It works and i cant rate it high enough. everything that i put it on booms. as a bonus, the skins of the pads and fibrous structure of the main trunk retain a fair amount of form.. get it out with buckets when its ready and you have a wonderful liquid feed plus a layer of fibrous compost material for the surface (it wont sprout, its just the internal 'structure' of the cacti), sort of like loofah/sponge gourd
