What drives management decisions and grain yield variability in Mesoamerican maize cropping systems? Evidence from small-scale farmers in southern Mexico

Wies, Germán; Navarrete‐Segueda, Armando; Ceccon, Eliane; Larsen, John; Martı́nez-Ramos, Miguel

doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103370

Cited by 5 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Another result that is worth discussing is how three of the four studied regions do not differ statistically in the volumes of glyphosate, 2,4-D, and paraquat used (Table 3). Unlike this tendency, in the MC region, various conditions, such as the possibility of mechanization, plots with river floodplain influence, crop rotations, and experimentation with greater planting densities (Wies et al, 2022), significantly reduce glyphosate use. It has been shown that increasing the planting density of maize by more than twice the recommended density can reduce weed biomass by up to 99% (Mhlanga et al, 2016).…”

Section: Management Practices and Plot Characteristics In The Use Of ...mentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The agricultural activities in the Selva region are mainly maize cultivation, cattle ranching and more recently oil palm plantation (Zermeño-Hernández et al, 2016), these activities are strongly influenced by the people's place of origin (Wies et al, 2022). The maize crop systems studied belong to…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ocozocoautla The most frequent soils are alluvial plains and low sandstone hills (Wies et al, 2022), some of these are adequate for the mechanized agriculture. The maize crop systems are small scale (1-5 ha) with both hybrid and criollo varieties and the use of chemical inputs, such as fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides are widespread.…”

Section: Ethnic Originmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These results support Colbach et al (2020) proposal, who suggest that reducing herbicide use rarely results in yield losses, especially if the farmers compensate with other management practices. In addition, it has been seen that the intensity of herbicide use has no direct relation to crop yield (Wies et al, 2022). Usually, this intensity depends on other management practices and their frequency, such as tillage and the mechanical control of weeds (Colbach and Cordeau, 2018).…”

Section: Management Practices and Plot Characteristics In The Use Of ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring the complexity of smallholders' intense use of glyphosate in maize crops from South Mexico: Remarks for an ongoing agroecological transition

Monroy-Sais

Astier²,

Wies³

et al. 2022

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

Self Cite

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Recently, Mexico has launched policies of agroecological transition that seek to foster healthier agri-food systems. One of these policies is the reduction and eventual elimination of glyphosate by 2024. Despite being the most used herbicide in Mexico and the world, little information exists about what factors determine a greater or reduced use of glyphosate in different socio-ecological contexts. This study aimed to explore different agricultural management, biophysical and social variables and their effects on glyphosate use in maize crops by smallholders (<8 ha). A questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were performed with 142 farmer families in four regions of the state of Chiapas to document the use of herbicides and glyphosate. By using regression trees, we identified those variables that determine a greater or lesser use of glyphosate for each region and jointly. The average volume of glyphosate for the four regions during an agricultural cycle was 2.7 l/ha−1. Sets of variables were associated with syndromes of greater use of glyphosate and herbicides in general, such as small plots (<0.67 ha), indigenous population, younger farmers, fewer family members, rainfed conditions, and plots without mechanization. These results can help the design of contextualized and flexible policies of transition, consistent with the socio-ecological heterogeneity of Mexico.

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Section: Management Practices and Plot Characteristics In The Use Of ...mentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ethnic Originmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Management Practices and Plot Characteristics In The Use Of ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Exploring the complexity of smallholders' intense use of glyphosate in maize crops from South Mexico: Remarks for an ongoing agroecological transition

Monroy-Sais

Astier²,

Wies³

et al. 2022

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, the practices and technologies developed to support commercial agriculture, for example, hybrid maize cropping, do not necessarily work well in traditional systems such as the milpa, which is generally sown by hand. In Chiapas, Mexico, a region where many farmers still grow local maize varieties using traditional, non-technified approaches, Wies et al (2022) found that fertilization, insecticides or herbicides had little measurable effect on maize productivity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of Mesoamerica

et al. 2023

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The milpa system is the basis of traditional agriculture in Mesoamerica. It is based on a polyculture of maize (Zea mays L.), bean (Phaseolus spp.) and squash (Cucurbita spp.) and is associated with a great diversity of crops and wild species. The milpa has great cultural and historical importance but can also be highly productive and provide sufficient and healthy diets for smallholder farmers. The milpa system is practiced less and less however, mainly due to socioeconomic changes, but also due to a lack of agronomic knowledge adapted to current conditions. To provide a starting point for new agronomic research, we reviewed the scientific literature to identify the current knowledge on milpa agronomy and determine research priorities to further improve the system. Given the wide diversity of conditions under which milpa is practiced, agronomic research is lacking, but indicates that improvements to the milpa can be made in all aspects of the milpa. 176 research articles on the milpa system were found in databases, of which 61 treated agronomic research. The main agronomic topics described in literature are crop variety, soil fertility management, weed management and productivity. Most research has focused only on maize and studies reporting on the associated crops are scarce. More research on all aspects of the milpa is needed to understand and improve the agronomy of the system under the changing conditions of modern agriculture. Reducing the workload associated with the milpa, as well as soil fertility and weed management can be identified as research priorities.

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Operations research and machine learning to manage risk and optimize production practices in agriculture: good and bad experience

Cock

Jiménez

Dorado

et al. 2023

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

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What drives management decisions and grain yield variability in Mesoamerican maize cropping systems? Evidence from small-scale farmers in southern Mexico

Cited by 5 publications

References 32 publications

Exploring the complexity of smallholders' intense use of glyphosate in maize crops from South Mexico: Remarks for an ongoing agroecological transition

Exploring the complexity of smallholders' intense use of glyphosate in maize crops from South Mexico: Remarks for an ongoing agroecological transition

Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of Mesoamerica

Operations research and machine learning to manage risk and optimize production practices in agriculture: good and bad experience

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