Use of native Agave to recover degraded lands
and to control soil erosion in the perspective
of production of Mescal (Cointzio Basin,
Michoacán , México )
Martínez-Palacios, A., Prat, C., Rios, E. (UMSNH; IRDLTHE; SEMARNAT)
PLANT DIVERSITY IN MEXICO
10% of the world phanerogamic diversity. The endemism
correspond to 10% at a generic level and 75% at species
level. (Rzedowski, 1993).
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF AGAVACEAE FAMILIY
Distributed from sea level to 3500 altitude. The greatest
diversity is located in xeric scrub and temperate forests
(Garcia-Mendoza, 1992).
Canadá
Genero
Agave
# spp
# spp MEX.
%
166
125
75
7
7
100
20
11
55
3
3
100
Manfreda
28
27
96
Polianthes
13
13
100
1
1
100
50
30
60
288
217
75
Beschorneria
Furcraea
Hesperaloe
Prochnyanthes
Yucca
TOTAL
Fuente: García-Mendoza y Galván, 1992
55% are endemic (Rzedowskui, 1993).
EUA
México
Cuba
Venezuela
C. A.
Ecuador
Bolivia
Paraguay
MAGUEY USES
Agave spp.
FARMACOLOGIC ACTION OF THE SAP:
Phytoestrogens (saponins (steroid)), blood
lipid lowering, energy. Demulcent, antiseptic,
anti-inflammatory, skin protection, emollient,
hepatoprotective, digestive and laxative.
RECOMMENDED FOR: Arthritis, cholesterol,
constipation, fatigue, menstruation is not
regular. digestive problems
General dose: 1 cup honey water, or 10 ml of
concentrate, one or more times per day.
OTHER: dresses, fiber for ropes, wires and
nets, bags, brushes, live barriers,
construction material, food, etc..
Current Uses: Ornamental, alcoholic
beverage (Mescal, Tequila), inulin
(polysaccharide), maguey honey. Potential
for Biodiesel.
Industrial distillation of Tequila (Agave tequilana Weber)
STEMS
OLD STORAGE
TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION OF MESCAL
Rustic distillation process of the mescal. 45-55% of Alcohol
MESCAL TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION
PEARLS
MESCAL
Traditional distillation column
ORIGIN DENOMINATION
Soil Erosion, for monocultures
Tradicional intervention of land:
Tumba y quema del bosque.
Zea maiz (corn)
Agave cupreata
Agave tequilana
STUDY SITE “LA YERBABUENA”
PLANTING ZONES IN TZIZIO MUNICIPALITY
GULLIES
LANDSLIDES DUE
DEFORESTATION
OBJECTIVES
General objective:
• Soil erosion mitigation and use of the native maguey in high marginal
locations.
Specific objectives:
• Stablish integral planting of native maguey, trees and other potential
species in abandoned rainfed agriculture areas.
• Mitigation of gully erosion based on biological barriers (Agave spp)
between eroded and productive areas.
• Create long term employmente through the explotation of the plantations
(Agave: mescal, fibra, inulina; Arboles: fruta, madera, medicinal, forraje;
Plantas anuales: forraje, medicinales, etc.)
• Impulse Agroforestry practice in order to increase the plants and animals
biodivesrity.
• Sustentable use and conservation of native agave population
Integral funding (federal, state and municipality support); coordinates in marginal
comunities and the universidad Michoacana.
Controled seeds germination
(98%)
4 AÑOS EN CAMPO
Local training in the
“MAGUEY MEZCALERO”
culture (Agave cupreata)
2 months
TZITZIO, MICHOACAN
3 months
1 year in
greenhouse
2 years
Response in 3 years plants for 3 different sun exposures.
ANOVA 95%: (¨*)P= 0.03, S.D.= standar Deviation.
Sun
Exposition
n
Height
cm.-SDTukey
Diameter
cm.-SDTukey
Interval
diameter
(cm)
Leave long.
cm.-SDTukey
Leave wide*
cm.-SDTukey
East
50
43.76±12.7a
84.46±20.9a
25-120
35.50±8.9a
15.86±3.2a
South
50
40.86±13.4a
80.74±20.9a
40-120
33.86±9.8a
15.22±5.9ab
Indirect light
48
39.69±14.1a
79.40±25.0a
37-145
31.02±12.1a
13.52±3.7b
1st year: 15% of losses.
Direct light
3th year: 3.5% of losses
Indirect light
A. cupreata (AGAVACEAE) planting 7 year of stablishment
Agave cupreata at 7 years of plantation.
At 7 years of planting, the populaton presents 20-30% of fructifacation
Integral practices for soil conservation
RESPECT AND MANAGE THE HERBACEOUS AROMATIC, HAS REDUCED PEST
ATTACK OF A DIVERSE AGAVE AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS
CORRIDOR
6m
CORRIDOR
3m
PROPOSAL FOR PRODUCTION AGROFORESTRY
agave, TREES AND HERBACEOUS
2.5m
slope
3.5m
6m
PLANTATION DENSITY PER HECTAR
830 Agave inaequidens
270 trees
+ herbaceous (medicin, food, aromatics)
Trees:
Forages, fruits, wood, medicament, etc.
LIVE BARRIERS BETWEEN PARCELS WITH DIVERSE
PLANTATIONS (AGAVES, FORAGE, GRASSLAND, ETC).
Agave cupreata
Agave sisalana
Agave y cactus (nopal)
LIVE BARRIERS OF Agave salmiana (MAGUEY
PULQUERO)
Zea maiz
LIVE BARRIERS FOR MITIGATION EROTION Y THE
PRODUCTION OF AGAVE (MAGUEY PULQUERO).
LIVE BARRIERS OF A. SALMIANA (MAGUEY PULQUERO).
AND EXPLOTATION OF HONEY WATER OR PULQUE.
Agave salmiana
Mayahuel la diosa pulquera
Native agave plantation de Agave inaequidens in great degradation land. ,
14 month of plantation, 80-95% survival. Proyected to plant 200 000 per
year.
CONCLUSIONS.
A number of actions required and planned some with financing:
Mass production of agave plants and monitoring A. inaequidens
plantation carried out in 2010.
Capacity building for community nursery management. (FinancingSEMARNAT)
Installing the community nursery (Financing SEMARNAT).
Identification of sites for plantations and design layaout of plantation.
Designing an effective system of monitoring.
Mitigation of soil erosion: a) biological barriers (Agave inaequidens) gully, b) land
under agroforestry in agricultural yields, c) boundaries of agaves and trees
between plots.
Association of marginalized communities in participatory agroforestry. Bases
source of employment for the operation of the agave products (fiber, mescal,
maguey honey, syrup, etc.).. Fruit trees (Annonaceae, sapodilla, Capulin, etc.).
Fodder: Fodder for cattle. Herbaceous food and medicinal aromatic
Increased biodiversity (animals and plants) and decreased use of agriultural
agrochemicals,organic farming trend.
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
RECOMENDATIONS
 Encourage producers not to collect or make use of wild individuals sustainable
in order to seek recovery of population surage producers not to collect or make
use of wild individuals sustainable in order to seek recovery of populations,
Ongoing advice on the cultivation of agave and other plants, marketing and
designation of origin of the agave.
Improvement of plantations through selections more robust and healthy plants.
Obtain new genetic material from plantations in reproductive status.
Integrated management of agave and the forest, deforested necessary.
Monitoring recovery of wild populations, seed release and recruitment.