Areas with agroecological potential for Agave cupreata (Trel. & Berger) plantations in Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: Determine areas with agroecological potential for Agave cupreata (Trel. & Berger) plantations in Guerrero, Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach: 54 specimens of A. cupreata were characterized; phenotypic, agroclimatic and agroecological data were recorded for each specimen. Information from 123 herbarium specimens and information available in the literature was consulted; In addition, representatives of the State Council of Mezcal in Guerrero and other companies were interviewed, with the purpose of identifying possible areas excluded in the field or herbarium review work, which were validated with field observations. This information was processed with the ArcGIS program Version: 10.3.1 Copyright ©1999-2015 Esri Inc., with which a Geographic Information System (GIS) was built, obtaining the distribution map as well as the edaphoclimatic and agroecological requirements of A. cupreata in Guerrero, information that allowed the delimitation of optimal, suboptimal and marginal areas for its establishment. The validation of the information was carried out through field trips to specific areas to verify the agroecological variables of the potential areas defined in this research.

Results: 673,084.16 ha were determined with optimal agroecological potential and 1,942,072.86 ha with suboptimal potential.

Limitations on study/implications: It is suggested to complement it with studies of productivity, population ecology, intra- and interpopulation genetic variability, in A. cupreata plantations and magueyeras.

Findings/conclusions: The North, Center and Mountain regions were the ones with the largest optimal surfaces, coinciding with the areas where mezcal production is concentrated in Guerrero.