REVISTA TERRA LATINOAMERICANA

Rainfed agriculture faces recurring threats that af fect its productivity year af ter year. Soil moisture and temperature are essential factors for the proper germination, growth, and development of maize. Climatic events such as droughts and frosts, resulting from climate variability, represent the main risks, as they cause direct damage, increase the vulnerability of the agricultural system, and significantly af fect production and, consequently, the economic stability of local producers. The state of Tlaxcala has three rainfed maize-producing regions, with the Oriente Huamantla region being the most important. This region comprises 13 municipalities, among which Atltzayanca and Huamantla stand out due to their higher production levels. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the degree of vulnerability of rainfed maize cultivation to extreme climatic events in the municipalities of Atltzayanca and Huamantla. A mixed methodology was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. Precipitation and minimum temperature variables for the period 1980–2021 were analyzed together with rainfed maize yield data by calculating means and standard deviations in order to establish correlations and determine the degree of vulnerability. Additionally, 182 questionnaires were administered, and group interviews were conducted in the selected municipalities. The results identified dif ferent degrees of vulnerability, with Huamantla being vulnerable to drought, exhibiting a 20% probability of obtaining low yields under this climatic event, as well as other relevant factors that also af fect crop performance, such as pest incidence and the use of agrochemicals. These findings highlight the need for future research adopting a holistic approach that integrates additional risk factors, including soil conditions, economic context, farmer training, seed type, and the increasing deterritorialization associated with agribusiness.

Lake Texcoco has been drained and impacted by human activities for over 100 years through the construction of drainage canals and more recently through the construction of an airport project. This caused not only the drying up of the lake, but also the drastic loss of moisture from the lacustrine sediments, so it is unknown if soils are forming. The objectives of the present research are to analyze the morphological characteristics and the chemical and physical properties of the lake sediments/soil of the former Lake Texcoco, to determine the formation of the soil and the natural or anthropogenic factors that have the greatest influence on its development, as well as to know its spatial distribution and the depth at which it is found. The information was generated from a 1:20,000 scale soil study on 18,000 ha of the Lago de Texcoco Federal Zone (CONACYT-COLPOS, 2021). Forty-four soil series were delineated and morphological, physical, and chemical data were collected for each series, which were used to create thematic maps. The salinity of the lake, its artificial (differential) drying, and the introduction of halophytic grasses have favored the formation of soils from lake sediments. They mainly modified the development of prismatic and block structures, the movement of clay and sand particles, and the occurrence of redox conditions. All this indicates a diverse morphology for a relatively small area and the presence of soil formation processes. The edaphic properties show a very heterogeneous spatial and vertical distribution within the soil profile, indicating that the soils of Lake Texcoco are in the early stages of development. However, it is not possible to determine at what depth their formation occurs.

In the High Valleys of Mexico, maize (Zea mays L.) is an economically and culturally important crop. However, average grain yield does not meet the increasing demand; therefore, one strategy to enhance productivity is the use of trilinear hybrids in agrosystems where their yield potential can be fully exploited. For these hybrids, it is advisable to define the most suitable genetic conformation to ensure optimal agronomic performance. This study evaluated the ef fect of dif ferent crossing orders on the productivity of ten trilinear maize hybrids. Field experiments were established in Cuautitlán Izcalli (clay loam soil) and Texcoco (sandy loam soil) under a randomized complete block design with three replications. Key agronomic variables were recorded, including grain yield and its components, male and female flowering, and plant height. The results showed significant dif ferences between environments, attributed to contrasting edaphic and climatic conditions. The average grain yield of the hybrids was 5.50 Mg ha-1. Hybrid H5 (L3 × L4 × L9) showed the highest yield (5.85 Mg ha-1), whereas H1 (L1 × L4 × L9) exhibited the lowest yield (4.70 Mg ha-1). In general, crossing order did not significantly af fect grain yield, except in hybrid H7, in which the combination (L4 × L9) × L7 exceeded its reciprocal by 20.7%. Flowering traits and plant height were consistent across most genotypes, with no relevant floral asynchrony observed. These findings indicate that, for most of the evaluated trilinear hybrids, crossing order was not a determinant factor influencing productivity, which facilitates seed production because seed increase can be conducted using any parental combination. In the specific case of H7, parental order does influence performance; therefore, the optimal combination must be defined during seed multiplication.

The accelerated growth of the population increases the demand for vegetables such as cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). In addition, challenges such as limited arable land and water availability, as well as the negative impacts of climate change, create the need to use substrates as cultivation media and to implement sustainable alternatives to increase yields, such as the use of beneficial elements. The objective of this study was to evaluate two silicon application routes, root and foliar, and three doses (0, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg L-¹) on production, fruit quality, and foliar nutrient content of cucumber grown in tezontle under protected conditions. Treatments were arranged in the field using a randomized complete block design with five replications. Yield increased by 36 and 43.9% with the application of 1500 mg supplied directly to the root and via foliar application, respectively, and by 33% with 1000 mg via foliar application. Fruit firmness increased by 19 and 20% with the application of 1500 mg to the foliage and the root, respectively; whereas this same dose, when applied to the root, increased fruit pH by 4.9%. When 1500 mg was applied to the root, leaf macronutrient content increased by 4.8% for S and 32.9% for N. In contrast, foliar application of 500 mg of silicon increased heavy metal content by 14% for Zn and 61% for Fe; however, these contents decreased with doses of 1000 and 1500 mg, regardless of the application method. Therefore, silicon application increased cucumber yield and fruit quality, modified foliar nutrient content, and the most appropriate dose was 1500 mg supplied either to the root or foliarly.

The management of household organic waste (HOW) remains a persistent challenge in most developing countries, primarily due to the lack of adequate infrastructure for its recovery. Household composting represents an ef fective strategy for organic waste management, as it enables the production of a value-added product (compost) with agronomic potential and reduces the overall volume of waste. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing willingness to pay (WTP) for the recovery of household organic waste through composting, specifically: (1) WTP for compost derived from HOW, (2) WTP for a service that produces compost from HOW, and (3) willingness to sell HOW by the kilogram generated at the household level. The contingent valuation method was applied to a sample of 382 households in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The influencing factors were identified using a binary logistic regression model. The results indicated that occupation, age, household size, and agreement with contributing to environmental protection through the purchase of products manufactured via recycling processes, even when priced higher, were significant explanatory variables.