Revista Agro Productividad
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Biological importance and environmental quality of the Laguna Santa Ana in Zacatecas, Mexico
Get PDFIn order to determining the presence of contamination by organic matter and diversity of aquatic bird species in the Santa Ana lagoon, Zac. The evaluation of the environmental quality (water quality and identification of migratory waterfowl species) was carried out during the migratory season in the lagoon wetland, which is located within the migratory route of the center presenting great deterioration environment due to anthropogenic factors. The results indicated BOD5 and COD values with an average of 55 and 230.6 mg/L respectively, suggesting a high level of contamination. The presence of residual discharges of treated and sanitary water was observed, being the cause of the contamination levels. Regarding bird diversity, a Shannon index of 2.7 was obtained, which indicates a high diversity of aquatic birds, including the presence of the Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis), a species of importance for conservation both nationally and internationally. It is concluded that the Santa Ana lagoon presents an important biological potential as a habitat for several aquatic species.Objective: To determine the environmental quality and diversity of the waterfowl species of the Laguna Santa Ana, located in the municipality of Fresnillo, Zacatecas.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A physicochemical analysis of the water was carried out to determine its organic matter pollution. In addition, the Bradford method was applied to establish protein levels, and an optical emission spectrometry was conducted to detect heavy metals. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’) was carried out to identify and count the populations of the lagoon.
Results: The physicochemical analysis of water recorded 55 and 230.6 mg/L BOD5 and COD, respectively. High protein levels (0.27-2.95 mL/mL) indicated organic pollution and high arsenic levels. The Shannon-Weiner index (2.7) recorded a high waterfowl diversity.
Study Limitations/Implications: Biological abundance was not determined, as a result of the sample size. The changes regarding waterfowl diversity may be the consequence of the seasonal conditions.
Findings/Conclusions: The Laguna de Santa Ana has a high waterfowl diversity, including species of international interest; however, organic pollution has caused a a significant environmental deterioration
Traditional knowledge in an agroforestry system and perspectives about agroecological practices in Nahua communities
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Objective: Identify traditional knowledge associated with the traditional agroforestry system (SAFT) integrated by corn-coffee-pepper and recognize perceptions and interests of Nahua communities towards the incorporation of agroecological practices.
Design/methodology/approach: The study was carried out in two Nahua communities in Cuetzalan, Puebla dedicated to the production of corn, coffee and pepper, in SAFT. A qualitative research approach was approached, conducting semi-structured interviews.
Results: A representative population sample was interviewed. 74% of the population were women, 38% were over 65 years old, 100% identified themselves as Nahuat and reported that maintaining the SAFT is a family activity. 29% said they carried out soil and organic matter conservation works. 26% described promoting species diversity (cultivated and tolerated). 9% reported establishing Scaptotrigona mexicana (endemic pollinator) in the plot. 65% know some agroecological practice; Of that portion, 42% would like to use organic fertilizers, 41% consider that fertility management and soil conservation are key to maintaining SAFT.
Limitations of the study/implications: The reported findings are applicable to the context of Nahua communities in the Sierra Norte de Puebla.
Findings/conclusions: There is traditional knowledge associated with SAFT. These have a focus on adaptation and emulation of local environmental characteristics to satisfy self-consumption. The comprehensive management approach of the agroecosystem tends towards sustainability. The perception about the incorporation of agroecological practices is positive, there is special interest in fertility management and soil conservation.ABSTRACTObjective: To identify traditional knowledge associated to the traditional agroforestry system (TAFS)integrated by corn-coffee-allspice and to recognize perceptions and interests of Nahua communities towardsthe incorporation of agroecological practices.Design/methodology/approach: Work was done in two Nahua communities of Cuetzalan, Puebla, Mexico,devoted to the production of corn (Zea mays L.), coffee (Coffea arabica L.) and allspice (Pimenta dioica Mill), inTAFS. A qualitative research approach was used, in which semi-structured interviews were conducted.Results: A representative population sample was interviewed; 74% of the population were women, 38% wasolder than 65, 100% self-described as Nahua and recounted that maintenance of the TAFS is a family activity.Performing soil and organic matter conservation was manifested by 29%; 26% described promoting the diversityof species (cultivated and tolerated); 9% described establishing Scaptotrigona mexicana (endemic pollinator) in theplot; 65% knows an agroecological practice, and of this portion, 42% would like to use organic fertilizers, 41%considers that management of fertility and soil conservation are key to maintain the TAFS.Limitations on study/implications: The findings reported are applicable to the context of Nahuacommunities in the Sierra Norte region of Puebla.Findings/conclusions: There are traditional understandings associated to the TAFS. These have an approachof adaptation and emulation of local environmental characteristics to satisfy self-consumption. The approachof integral management of the agroecosystem tends to sustainability. The perception of the incorporationof agroecological practices is positive, and there is special interest in the management of soil fertility andconservation
Commercial amino acids for yield and its components of common bean Azufrado Reyna in Northern Sinaloa
Get PDFObjective: To investigate the effect of foliar commercial amino acids on yield and its components of common bean Azufrado Reyna under field conditions.
Design/methodology/approach: Randomized complete block design with four replicates and four treatments (three commercial amino acids and a control). Grain yield, aboveground biomass, number of pods and normal seeds per unit surface, number of grains per pod, number of normal seeds per pod, weight of 100 seeds, and individual weight of seed were evaluated.
Results: All biostimulants influenced the increase in grain yield, aboveground biomass, number of normal pods and seeds per unit surface as well as the number of seeds per pod with respect to the control.
Limitations on study/implications: The study only assessed the evaluation of agronomic variables; therefore, it is necessary the measurement of morpho-physiological traits that provide evidence about the benefits of foliar aminoacids on yield and the formation of each component under field conditions.
Findings/conclusions: Foliar biostimulant application had a positive effect on grain yield and some of its components as compared to the control. The number of normal seeds per normal pod was the variable that showed the highest correlation with grain yield.  
Frequency of fungi associated with strawberry dry wilt and in vitro antagonistic impact of Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis
Get PDFObjective: To determine the frequency of fungi associated with strawberry dry wilt and to evaluate the antagonistic impact of Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Three sampling sessions were conducted in strawberry plantations in the Zamora Valley to isolate and identify fungi associated with strawberry dry wilt and to determine their frequency. In vitro antagonism tests were performed between Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus subtilis, and fungi isolated from strawberry plants showing wilt symptoms. Additionally, the percentages of mycelial growth inhibition were determined.
Results: Six fungi were isolated from diseased plants showing wilt symptoms. The most frequent fungi were: Neopestalotiopsis sp. (54.7%), Fusarium oxysporum (50.6%), and Rhizoctonia solani (40.5%). Trichoderma harzianum inhibited >90% of the radial growth of Rhizoctonia solani mycelia, of Cylindrocarpon sp., >80% of Fusarium solani, and F. oxysporum mycelia, and 77.7% of Neopestalotiopsis sp. mycelia. Bacillus subtilis recorded the highest antagonism against Rhizoctonia solani (57%).
Study Limitations/Implications: This research faced no limitations.
Findings/Conclusions: In vitro tests determined that Trichoderma harzianum can inhibit the mycelial growth of fungi associated with strawberry dry wilt. Bacillus subtilis had a lower capacity to inhibit the mycelial growth of the confronted fungi than Trichoderma harzianum; however, it was the most effective bacterium against Rhizoctonia solani
Effect of bioinputs on milpa production, in three communities of the Sierra Nevada, Puebla
Get PDFObjective: To evaluate the effect of the Supermix bioinput on milpa yield, using local technologies practiced by producers from three communities of the Sierra Nevada.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The milpa —a polyculture that consists of maize, beans, and squash— provides a diversity of nutritious foods for families, with production ranges that are constant throughout the region. Applying bioinputs opens the possibility of improving these ranges. The Supermix was applied in five 30-m long rows in 9 producer-managed milpa plots, in order to carry out an exploratory measurement of its effect on the productive levels of the polyculture. For comparative purposes, the average yields of the milpa were estimated, both in the 5 rows in which the Supermix was applied and in the rest of the plot (control).
Results: In the three communities under study, the milpa produced in average 2.51 t of maize, 170.6 kg of beans, and 122.9 kg of squash seed per hectare; meanwhile, the control produced 2.57 tons of maize, 159.3 kg of beans, and 99.6 kg of squash seed. The total yield of the milpa system (sum of all products) to which the Supermix was applied was 2,804 kg ha-1, while the control system recorded 2,828 kg ha-1.
Study Limitations/Implications: Drought, pest damage, and previous bean harvests influenced the results.
Findings/Conclusions: The average yields of beans and squash to which Supermix was applied were higher than with the control, opening opportunities for innovation. Additionally, work in the milpa is mostly carried out by women
BROMATOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ANNATTO (Bixa orellana L.) SEEDS
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to carry out a bromatological and physicochemical analysis of local annatto seeds and a commercial pasteObjective: to carry out a bromatological and physicochemical analysis of local annatto seeds and a commercialpaste.Materials and Methods: local annatto seeds to which a physicochemical analysis was carried out whereash, humidity (weight difference), dry matter, proteins were determined. ADF and NDF, fat, and in addition,bromatological analysis was carried out on the samples and the commercial pasta.Results: sample M3 (dark heart-shaped annatto without filaments) presented the highest values. The bixincontent was recorded with 4.09% in sample M2 (heart-shaped red annatto without filaments) and thecommercial paste was the lowest with 0.56%.Limitations and Implications of the study: the importance of performing the bromatological and physicalchemicalanalysis of annatto seeds of local genotypes determined which of the local samples and the commercialpaste are the ones that contain the greatest amount of bixin.Findings and Conclusions: Sample M3 (dark heart-shaped annatto without filaments) presented the highestvalues. The highest bixin content was found in the smooth heart-red variety and the lowest value in thecommercial pasta
Antifungal potential and chemical composition of Tagetes lunulata Ort. essential oil for the control of Trichophyton rubrum Malmsten
Get PDFThe essential oils of aromatic and medicinal plants are an important resource used to control several health conditions; however, information about their composition and antimicrobial activity is scarce. This study used a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze the composition of the essential oil (EO) of Tagetes lunulata Ort., a Mexican endemic plant, known as wild cempaxúchitl. The major components of the EO include: verbenone (47.17%), α-pinene (10.93%), 1,1,1-Trifluoro-2-hexanone (9.63%), β-caryophyllene (6.10%), germacrene-D (4.99%), L-verbenone (4.89%), and E-tagetone (4.44%). The disk agar diffusion method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of T. lunulata against Trichophyton rubrum (athlete's foot). A significant antimicrobial activity was observed with a ≥60% EO concentration. The dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 200 μg ml-1. The T. lunulata EO recorded a strong antimicrobial activity against T. rubrum; therefore, it is a natural alternative for the control of natural antifungals
Nutritional characteristics of different types of eggs
Get PDFObjective: To analyze 5 types of poultry eggs (chicken, turkey, ostrich, duck and quail) to compare their nutritional characteristics and sensory properties.
Design/ Methodology/ Approach: A physical analysis was performed: weight of the entire egg (weight and proportion of the albumin, yolk and shell) length and width of the entire egg, shape index, shell color, and yolk color, nutritional (determination of raw fat, protein, dry matter and ashes) and in sensory adaptation (measured through hedonic testing of adaptability through the arrangement of nine points to an individualized quantity of 97). Different types of egg used: chicken, turkey, ostrich, duck and quail.
Results: The egg containing the most amount of protein was that of the duck (13.02 ± 0.46 %), while the sample containing the lowest result was that of the ostrich (9.47 ± 0.27 %). The type of egg that contained the fattest level was the duck (10.31 ± 0.75 %); on the other hand, the type of egg that demonstrated the least amount of fat was that of the chicken egg (8.28 ± 0.39 %).
Results/ Findings/ Conclusion: Even though some physical differences exist in all types of eggs, they are similar and there is minimal variation in terms of their nutritional value. Therefore, these different types of eggs can be applied for consumption as substitutes for chicken eggs and as an alternative source of protein.
Limitations of the study/ Implications: Lack of previous research in regard to comparisons of the types of analyzed eggs
Factors that Impact the Market of Agricultural Tractors in Mexico
Get PDFObjective: To determine the main factors that impact the market of agricultural tractors in Mexico.Design/Methodology/Approach: Time series data from 2000 to 2020 were used to estimate two nationalscale models for agricultural tractors: one for supply and the other for demand.Results: The results suggest that, in the long run, the supply and demand for agricultural tractors have an inelastic responsiveness to price changes, with a 0.079 and -0.083 elasticity, respectively.Study Limitations/Implications: The main limitation is the lack of official data on the historical prices, sales, and production of tractor units in recent years. Consequently, estimates must be employed.Findings/Conclusions: In addition to the price factor, producer income and interest rate affect demand, with elasticities of 0.178 and -0.002, respectively. Consequently, the government should implement the necessary measures, such as improving income and maintaining low interest rates, to encourage the demand for tractors in Mexico
Plant diversity and uses in family gardens, a case study
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The objective was to characterize the current condition of home gardens in the Ejido Nueva Esperanza 1st Section, Palenque, Chiapas. The methodology applied was a semi-structured interview, applied to 43 families to determine the socioeconomic conditions, the characteristics of the orchards, their floristic composition and their main uses. The orchards were grouped according by their size and location around de house. Data were analyzed descriptively to obtain frequencies, percentages and averages. In addition, Shannon-Wiener (H') and Simpson (S) diversity indices were calculated. Results. The families live below the poverty line, whose main activity is the agriculture. In general, 3,549 individuals were recorded and grouped in 46 botanical families, 82 genera and 89 species. The orchards keep 33 tree species, 33 herbaceous species, 15 shrubs, 5 rosettes and 3 arborescent species. The satisfiers registered were, edible fruits, medicinal, ornamental, horticultural, timber, condimental, fuel (firewood), condimental-timber and medicinal-horticultural. The highest number of individuals recorded were fruit trees with 28 species. The index was variable between orchards (H'=2.8, 2.6 2.6). Implications. This study allowed knowing the importance of the floristic composition and diversity of plant species in the orchards in relation to the satisfying uses given by the families. Conclusion. The diversity and composition of plant species in home gardens is determined by their location and size and by their use value.
Key words: home garden; floristic composition; use of plants; family economyObjective: To characterize the current condition of home gardens in the Ejido Nueva Esperanza 1st Section,Palenque, Chiapas.Methodology: A semi-structured interview was conducted with 43 families to determine socioeconomic conditions, garden characteristics, floristic composition, and their uses (satisfaction). Gardens were categorized by size (small, medium, and large) and location (center, intermediate, and periphery of the community). Data were analyzed descriptively to obtain frequencies, percentages, and averages. Additionally, Shannon-Wiener (H') and Simpson (S) diversity indices were calculated according to size and location.Results: Families were found to be below the poverty line, with agriculture as their primary activity. A total of 3549 individuals were recorded, grouped into 46 botanical families, 82 genera, and 89 species. Native species were the most dominant at 52%. There were 33 tree species, 33 herbaceous species, 15 shrubs, 5 rosettes, and 3 arborescent species. Families reported using plants for fruit, medicinal purposes, ornamentation, horticulture, timber, condiments, fuel (firewood), and medicinal-horticultural purposes, primarily for self-consumption. The highest number of individuals recorded were fruit trees, with 28 species. Small (H´ = 2.8), intermediate(H '= 2.6), and peripheral (H´´´ =2.6) gardens showed higher diversity similar to Fisher’s alpha.Implications: This study highlights the importance of floristic composition and plant species diversity in home gardens concerning the uses attributed by families.Conclusion: The diversity and composition of plant species in home gardens are determined by their location and size, as well as the value of use that the family attaches to them