Use of native Agave to recover degraded lands and to control soil erosion in the

perspective of production of Mescal (Cointzio Basin, Michoacán , México )

Martínez-Palacios, A., Prat, C., Rios, E. (UMSNH; IRD-LTHE; SEMARNAT)

PLANT DIVERSITY IN MEXICO

10% of the world phanerogamic diversity. The endemism correspond to 10% at a generic level and 75% at species level. (Rzedowski, 1993).

Canadá

EUA

México Cuba

VenezuelaC. A.

Ecuador

Bolivia

Paraguay

55% are endemic (Rzedowskui, 1993).

DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF AGAVACEAE FAMILIYDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF AGAVACEAE FAMILIY

Distributed from sea level to 3500 altitude. The greatest diversity is located in xeric scrub and temperate forests (Garcia-Mendoza, 1992).

FARMACOLOGIC ACTION OF THE SAP:  Phytoestrogens (saponins (steroid)), blood lipid lowering, energy. Demulcent, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, skin protection, emollient, hepatoprotective, digestive and laxative.RECOMMENDED FOR: Arthritis, cholesterol, constipation, fatigue, menstruation is not regular. digestive problems

General dose: 1 cup honey water, or 10 ml of concentrate, one or more times per day.

OTHER: dresses, fiber for ropes, wires and nets, bags, brushes, live barriers, construction material, food, etc..

Current Uses: Ornamental, alcoholic beverage (Mescal, Tequila), inulin (polysaccharide), maguey honey. Potential for Biodiesel.

MAGUEY USES

Agave spp.

Industrial distillation of Tequila (Agave tequilana Weber)

STEMS

OLD STORAGE

Rustic distillation process of the mescal. 45-55% of Alcohol

TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION OF MESCAL

PEARLS

MESCAL

ORIGIN DENOMINATIONTraditional distillation column

MESCAL TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION

Zea maiz (corn)

Agave tequilana

Agave cupreata

Tradicional intervention of land:Tumba y quema del bosque.

Soil Erosion, for monocultures

GULLIES

LANDSLIDES DUE DEFORESTATION

STUDY SITE “LA YERBABUENA”

PLANTING ZONES IN TZIZIO MUNICIPALITY

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

General objective:• Soil erosion mitigation and use of the native maguey in high marginal locations.

Specific objectives:• Stablish integral planting of native maguey, trees and other potential species in abandoned rainfed agriculture areas.

• Mitigation of gully erosion based on biological barriers (Agave spp) between eroded and productive areas.

• Create long term employmente through the explotation of the plantations (Agave: mescal, fibra, inulina; Arboles: fruta, madera, medicinal, forraje; Plantas anuales: forraje, medicinales, etc.)

• Impulse Agroforestry practice in order to increase the plants and animals biodivesrity.

• Sustentable use and conservation of native agave population

Integral funding (federal, state and municipality support); coordinates in marginal comunities and the universidad Michoacana.

Controled seeds germination (98%)

1 year in greenhouse

4 AÑOS EN CAMPO Local training in the

“MAGUEY MEZCALERO” culture (Agave cupreata)

3 months

2 months

5 months2 years

TZITZIO, MICHOACAN

Response in 3 years plants for 3 different sun exposures. ANOVA 95%: (¨*)P= 0.03, S.D.= standar Deviation.

Sun Exposition

n Heightcm.-SD-Tukey

Diametercm.-SD-Tukey

Interval diameter

(cm)

Leave long.cm.-SD-Tukey

Leave wide*cm.-SD-Tukey

East 50 43.76±12.7a 84.46±20.9a 25-120 35.50±8.9a 15.86±3.2a

South 50 40.86±13.4a 80.74±20.9a 40-120 33.86±9.8a 15.22±5.9ab

Indirect light 48 39.69±14.1a 79.40±25.0a 37-145 31.02±12.1a 13.52±3.7b

1st year: 15% of losses.

3th year: 3.5% of lossesDirect light Indirect light

A. cupreata (AGAVACEAE) planting 7 year of stablishment

Agave cupreata at 7 years of plantation.

At 7 years of planting, the populaton presents 20-30% of fructifacation

Integral practices for soil conservation

RESPECT AND MANAGE THE HERBACEOUS AROMATIC, HAS REDUCED PEST ATTACK OF A DIVERSE AGAVE AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS

6

m3m

2.5m

3.5m

CO

RR

IDO

R

CO

RR

IDO

R

PROPOSAL FOR PRODUCTION AGROFORESTRY agave, TREES AND HERBACEOUS

6mslope

PLANTATION DENSITY PER HECTAR

830 Agave inaequidens

270 trees

+ herbaceous (medicin, food, aromatics)

Trees:

Forages, fruits, wood, medicament, etc.

LIVE BARRIERS BETWEEN PARCELS WITH DIVERSE PLANTATIONS (AGAVES, FORAGE, GRASSLAND, ETC).

Agave cupreata

Agave sisalana

Agave y cactus (nopal)

LIVE BARRIERS OF Agave salmiana (MAGUEY PULQUERO)

Zea maiz

LIVE BARRIERS FOR MITIGATION EROTION Y THE PRODUCTION OF AGAVE (MAGUEY PULQUERO).

Agave salmiana

LIVE BARRIERS OF A. SALMIANA (MAGUEY PULQUERO). AND EXPLOTATION OF HONEY WATER OR PULQUE.

Mayahuel la diosa pulquera

Native agave plantation de Agave inaequidens in great degradation land. , 14 month of plantation, 80-95% survival. Proyected to plant 200 000 per year.

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS.

A number of actions required and planned some with financing:Mass production of agave plants and monitoring A. inaequidens plantation carried out in 2010.Capacity building for community nursery management.

(Financing- SEMARNAT)Installing the community nursery (Financing SEMARNAT).Identification of sites for plantations and design layaout of

plantation.Designing an effective system of monitoring.

Mitigation of soil erosion: a) biological barriers (Agave inaequidens) gully, b) land under agroforestry in agricultural yields, c) boundaries of agaves and trees between plots.

 Association of marginalized communities in participatory agroforestry. Bases source of employment for the operation of the agave products (fiber, mescal, maguey honey, syrup, etc.).. Fruit trees (Annonaceae, sapodilla, Capulin, etc.). Fodder: Fodder for cattle. Herbaceous food and medicinal aromatic

Increased biodiversity (animals and plants) and decreased use of agriultural agrochemicals,organic farming trend.

THANK YOU THANK YOU FORFOR YOUR YOUR ATTENTIONATTENTION

RECOMENDATIONS RECOMENDATIONS

Encourage producers not to collect or make use of wild individuals sustainable in order to seek recovery of population surage producers not to collect or make use of wild individuals sustainable in order to seek recovery of populations,Ongoing advice on the cultivation of agave and other plants, marketing and designation of origin of the agave.Improvement of plantations through selections more robust and healthy plants. Obtain new genetic material from plantations in reproductive status.Integrated management of agave and the forest, deforested necessary.Monitoring recovery of wild populations, seed release and recruitment.