Identification of Potential Areas for Establishment of Plantations of <i>Agave lechuguilla</i> Torr. in Coahuila, Mexico

Abstract

Adverse weather conditions and intensive use for fiber production have caused decline of natural populations of Agave lechuguilla. By these reasons, it is important to develop a sustainable management of this specie to avoid this situation. One of the first steps is to establish forest plantations as an alternative to restore A. lechuguilla habitat and increase its range while at the same time indirectly reducing erosion rates. The aim of this study was to identify the potential areas for establishment of plantations of A. lechuguilla in the State of Coahuila, Mexico. Areas for planting establishment were selected according to multi-criteria analysis using Geographic Information System (GIS) Idrisi32 Ver 2.0 and 3.2 Arc.View. The analysis was based on comparison of climate and soil requirements in contrast to environmental conditions of the tested area. The evaluated variables were: soil type, texture, depth, average annual temperature, annual precipitation, elevation and slope. Results derive in potential area maps, geo-referenced and their distribution by Agricultural Development District. An area of 5 million 159,273 hectares was determined with potential for establishment of A. lechuguilla forest plantations in the State of Coahuila. It was concluded that, use of GIS is a reliable tool to determine potential areas for A. lechuguilla forest plantations, where this specie has higher probability of success in survival and biomass production. This study will support programs aimed to strengthen the economy of rural producers and also recover and preserve the arid state.

Dummy regression to predict dry fiber in Agave lechuguilla Torr. in two large-scale bioclimatic regions in Mexico

“…Using the same variables, plus slope, aspect and records of the presence of the species, some authors [ 32 , 33 ] have generated zones of productive potential in this region of the country, estimating between 9 and 5 million ha that are ideal for A . lechuguilla plantations, mainly in zone 2 of our study ( Fig 1B ).…”

“…The results of the PCA showed that components 1 (64.17%) and 2 (25.89%) explain 90.07% of the variance. The contribution of each variable in component 1 was 29.98% (Bio 1), 27.61% (altitude), 21.80% (Bio 6), 17.95% (Bio 5), 2.66% (Bio 12) (Fig 1A) Using the same variables, plus slope, aspect and records of the presence of the species, some authors [32,33] have generated zones of productive potential in this region of the country, estimating between 9 and 5 million ha that are ideal for A. lechuguilla plantations, mainly in zone 2 of our study (Fig 1B). Flores et al [26] constructed models to estimate aboveground biomass of this species, considering the state boundaries (Fig 1 ) as the dummy variable (or zone) and found differences in biomass among the zones.…”

Agave and Opuntia Species as Sustainable Feedstocks for Bioenergy and Byproducts

“…is another wild species that grows in the arid and semi-arid zones of Mexico, mainly in the North part of Mexico [104]. This species is becoming of interest for establishing crops to produce fibers and bioethanol [105,106].…”

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“…Los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) representan una herramienta para explicar y hacer frente a los principales problemas como la deforestación y el cambio de uso del suelo; los resultados que se obtienen mediante su implementación son básicos para la toma de decisiones de una manera eficaz en la planeación del uso de suelo con fines de conservación, protección y/o restauración de ecosistemas degradados. Los sistemas de Información Geográfica han sido empleados en estudios de potencial productivo para el establecimiento de plantaciones en diferentes ecosistemas desde áridos y semiáridos, tropicales y bosques templados entre los que destacan los realizados por Meza, 2001;Meza, 2003;Sotelo et al, 2005;Chacón et al, 2010;Sáenz et al, 2010;Castillo et al, 2014;Muñoz et al, 2016a;Muñoz et al, 2016b. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar areas potenciales para establecer sistemas silvopastoriles con Pinus devoniana Lind. y Chloris gayana Kunth o Eragrostis curvula (Schard.)…”

“…The results obtained for their implementation are basic for efficient decision making on the planning of land use for conservation, protection and/or restoration of degraded ecosystems. The Geographic Information systems have been used in studies of productive potential for the establishment of plantations in different ecosystems from arid and semi-arid, tropical and temperate forests (Meza, 2001;Meza, 2003;Sotelo et al, 2005;Chacón et al, 2010;Sáenz et al, 2010;Castillo et al, 2014, Muñoz et al, 2016aMuñoz et al, 2016b). (García, 1981).…”