Maya and WRB Soil Classification in Yucatan, Mexico: Differences and Similarities

Abstract

Soils of the municipality of Hocabá, Yucatán, México, were identified according to both Mayan farmers’ knowledge and the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). To identify Maya soil classes, field descriptions made by farmers and semistructured interviews were utilized. WRB soils were identified by describing soil profiles and analyzing samples in the laboratory. Mayan farmers identified soils based on topographic position and surface properties such as colour and amount of rock fragments and outcrops. Farmers distinguished two main groups of soils: K'ankab or soils of plains and Boxlu’um or soils of mounds. K'ankab is a group of red soils with two variants (K'ankab and Haylu’um), whereas Boxlu’um is a group of dark soils with five variants (Tsek'el, Ch'ich'lu’um, Chaltun, Puslu’um, and Ch'och'ol). Soils on the plains were identified as Leptosoils, Cambisols, and Luvisols. Soils identified in mounds were Leptosols and Calcisols. Many soils identified by farmers could be more than one WRB unit of soil and vice versa; in these cases no direct relationship between both classification systems was possible. Mayan and WRB soil types are complementary; they should be used together to improve regional soil classifications, help transference of agricultural technologies, and make soil management decisions.

Effects of Slash-and-Burn-Farming and a Fire-Free Management on a Cambisol in a Traditional Maya Farming System

“…The annual precipitation is 1195 mm and the mean temperature 25.4 °C (Comisión Nacional del Agua, 2015). The analyzed soil is locally called K'ankab, which refers to a dark-red rhodic cambisol, typical for plains and popular for milpa in this region (Estrada-Medina et al, 2013). Its texture is sandy loam and its original pH was 7.2.…”

Red and Brown Soils Increase the Development and Content of Nutrients in Habanero Pepper Subjected to Irrigation Water with High Electrical Conductivity

“…In the work of Bautista et al (2005), the Chich lu'um soil, which contains an abundance of gravel, is also mentioned, along with the Chak lu'um, a deep red soil, although they were not found in the area under study. Estrada-Medina et al (2013) reported that the farmers of the locality of Hocaba, situated in the central region of the state of Yucat an, can identify 11 different soil types in the region, differentiated by topographic position, color, quantity of rocky outcrops, rock fragments, and their water retention capacity. Estrada Medina et al (2013) reported that the red soils (K'ankab and Chaklu'um) were found only on the plain, and these soils were characterized by the presence of very few rocky fragments, good water retention, a higher content of clay, and a lower quantity of organic material; whereas the black soils (Box lu'um and other varieties), which are found in the mound, present stones and rocky outcrops.…”

“…According to Estrada-Medina et al (2013), the farmers of the central part of Yucat an prefer the brown soil for the cultivation of local peppers-their reasoning being simply that the pepper grows well in this type of soil. One reason could be nutritional; however, for the moment, this factor remains unknown.…”

“…There is also some controversy among the farmers regarding how to obtain the best yields when the irrigation (rain) is poor. Some farmers believe that the best option is the soil type of the mounds, while others prefer the soil of the plain (Estrada-Medina et al, 2013). Further studies are needed to clarify the impact of the soil type on the growth and development of the habanero pepper to design better strategies for the cultivation in accordance with the soil type, including the management of chemical fertilizers.…”

<i>Phaseolus</i> Genetic Resources Grown in Campeche, Mexico

“…The harvesting took place at the beginning of November for the early samples, coming to an end in the same year by December 29th with the late genotypes. The type of soil in this region is Luvisols known as K'ankab (classification according to the Mayan), red soils with high clay content but with permeable drainage [7].…”