(1) Background: Coffee agroforestry systems (CAFS) in Veracruz, Mexico, are being displaced by avocado monocultures due to their high economic value. This change can generate alterations in the type of organic residues produced and soil biological activity (SBA) which is sensitive to climatic variations, changes in floristic composition, and agronomic management. It can be evaluated through soil respiration and macrofauna, both related to soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics. The objective was to: (1) Analyze the variation of SBA as well as the C and N dynamics in modified coffee agroforestry systems; (2) Methods: Three CAFS (renewed, intensive pruning, and with the introduction of avocados) and an avocado plantation were compared. The evaluations were conducted during the period 2017–2019. Soil parameters (respiration, macrofauna, C and N contents) and C content of plant biomass were measured in plots of 25 × 25 m2 from three soil depths in triplicate. Spearman’s test and a principal component analysis were performed to determine the structural dependence on C and N dynamics; (3) Results: The introduction of avocado showed the lowest soil respiration values (with 193 g CO2 ha−1 h−1 at 0–10 cm depth), this system did not display soil macrofauna and increased soil organic carbon content. The soil C/N ratio was sensitive to the introduction of avocado. Correlation between soil respiration and litter-related parameters was positive, but it was negatively correlated with soil organic matter and total soil nitrogen, explaining 67.7% of the variation; (4) Conclusions: Modification of CAFS generated variations in the SBA and soil C and N contents.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo conocer la abundancia y diversidad de Hongos de Micorriza Arbuscular (HMA) asociados con cacao Theobroma cacao L. en tres diferentes agroecosistemas (AGR), ubicados en el distrito de Irazola, provincia de Padre Abad, región Ucayali, en la Amazonía peruana. Los AGR incluyeron: 1) Cacao en monocultivo (AGR-1), 2) Cacao asociado con Inga edulis – guaba (AGR-2), y 3) cacao con cobertura de kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides) (AGR-3). Se realizaron cuatro evaluaciones del número de esporas de HMA durante el período de julio a octubre del 2013. La abundancia fue mayor en el AGR-3, con 1 100 a 780 esporas por 100 gr de suelo, seguido por los AGR-2 y AGR-1; sin embargo, se encontró mayor diversidad en el AGR-2 identificándose 29 especies, seguido por los AGR-1 y AGR-3. Las especies de HMA identificadas pertenecían a los géneros Acaulospora, Ambispora, Archeospora, Cetraspora, Clareideoglomus, Diversispora, Fuscutata, Glomus, Kuklospora, Pacispora, Paraglomus y Sclerocystis. Se concluye que el número de esporas esta relacionado con la densidad de la cobertura, mientras la diversidad de especies HMA parece estar asociada con la diversidad de especies de plantas, siempre ycuando ninguna especie vegetal domine la cobertura.

<p><strong>Background.</strong> Considering the current importance of recognizing the potential of traditional agroecosystems, including homegardens in the sustainable development of many rural and urban communities, strategists and scientists around the world are showing increasing interest in their study. <strong>Objective.</strong> Analyze the scientific literature relevant to the scope and constraints of homegardens (HGs), and to identify gaps and research perspectives, especially for indigenous communities in Mexico. <strong>Methodology.</strong> A total of 335 studies published in the last decades (1986-2020) were collected from different databases using predefined keywords. All publications were organized and stored in the Zotero (2018) program. The trends of all the publications were analyzed using NVivo 12 Plus software. <strong>Results.</strong> The number of publications increased from the year 2000. About 70% of the publications analyzed were research articles in english. Of the total studies examined 239 (71.35%) were conducted in different parts of the world, of which 30% from Asia and the remaining 96 (28.65%) from Mexico, primarily in tropics. Most of these studies focused on ecological (62.98%), economic (20.29%), cultural (13.43%), social (7.46%) and multifunctional features (12.23%) of HGs. The same pattern was identified in the case of Mexico, with studies of 10.74%, 5.07%, 5.67%, 0.597%, and 3.58% focused on ecological, economic, cultural, social and the multifunctionality features of HGs respectively. <strong>Implications. </strong>The analysis of the scope and limitations of HGs contributes to identifying the need to carry out transdisciplinary research that reflects their whole dynamics as agroecosystems, in which, in addition to the ecological environment, there are various cultural aspects considered important in the indigenous communities of Mexico.<strong> Conclusions. </strong>The publications emphasized the importance of homegardens to provide multiple ecosystem functions and services to enhance human well-being. However, future research should reevaluate HGs based on a holistic multi-functional agriculture approach to promote them as one of the strategies conducive to improve family well-being. Also, it is suggested to evaluate the degree of sustainability of HGs based on its resilience and adaptation capacity to confront current challenges.</p>