POTENTIAL AREAS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PLANTATIONS OF Agave angustifolia HAW IN THE STATE OF GUERRERO, MEXICO

Abstract

Objective: To determine optimum and suboptimal areas for the establishment of plantations of Agave angustifolia Haw. in the state of Guerrero.

Design/methodology/approach: A collection of 139 specimens of A. angustifolia was carried out, obtaining for each specimen phenotypic, agroclimatic and agroecological data. The information of 30 specimens of herbarium was consulted. Interviews were conducted with the representatives of the state council of mezcal in Guerrero, the company Sanzekan Tinemi and Mezcalli del Sur, to complement the information of the areas. A database was created where the information of each copy was included, as well as the information obtained from the interviews. Criteria for selecting potential areas of A. angustifoliawere defined, after which a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was constructed, generating mapping areas with agroclimatic and agro potential, wherein the optimal suboptimal and marginal areas for the establishment of A. angustifolia were delineated. For the validation of the information, field visits were made to specific sites to verify the agroecological conditions of the potential areas obtained in this research.

Results: There are approximately 1,020,998.27 ha with optimum aptitude and 618,015.87 ha with suboptimal aptitude.

Limitations on study/implications: We suggest to incorporate information referring to the physiology, productivity and genetic diversity of the native populations of A. angustifolia.

Findings/conclusions: The regions with the highest and suboptimal potential for the plantations of A. angustifolia are Norte, Tierra Caliente and Centro, where the largest production of mezcal in the state occurs.