Land use change from forests to grazing lands is one of the important sources of greenhouse gas emissions in many parts of the tropics. The objective of this study was to analyze the extent of soil organic carbon (SOC) loss from the conversion of native forests to pasturelands in Mexico. We analyzed 66 sets of published research data with simultaneous measurements of soil organic carbon stocks between native forests and pasturelands in Mexico. We used a generalized linear mixed effect model to evaluate the effect of land use change (forest versus pasture), soil depth, and original native forest types. The model showed that there was a significant reduction in SOC stocks due to the conversion of native forests to pasturelands. The median loss of SOC ranged from 31.6% to 52.0% depending upon the soil depth. The highest loss was observed in tropical mangrove forests followed by highland tropical forests and humid tropical forests. Higher loss was detected in upper soil horizon (0–30 cm) compared to deeper horizons. The emissions of CO₂ from SOC loss ranged from 46.7 to 165.5 Mg CO₂ eq. ha⁻¹ depending upon the type of original native forests. In this paper, we also discuss the effect that agroforestry practices such as silvopastoral arrangements and other management practices like rotational grazing, soil erosion control, and soil nutrient management can have in enhancing SOC stocks in tropical grasslands. The results on the degree of carbon loss can have strong implications in adopting appropriate management decisions that recover or retain carbon stocks in biomass and soils of tropical livestock production systems.

Intercropping is the process of planting two or more crops simultaneously in the same field in order to provide greater ecosystem services (i.e. services related to sustainable land and water use, climate change mitigation, and ecosystem restoration). In southern Mexico, the cereal-legume intercropping is a traditional cropping practice that is declining overtime. This paper provides a literature review of the potential benefits and constraints of a maize-legume intercropping for small-scale farms in southern Mexico. This review explored and elucidated the different ecosystem services delivered by maize-legume intercropping systems. This information will help farmers know how to make a better use of cereal-legume intercropping systems to increase maize yields, improve their socioeconomic conditions, and enhance conservation agricultural practices in southern Mexico.

Edible wild plants (EWP) continue to be an important food source for indigenous communities. A survey was conducted to identify the consumption and management of EWP known as quelites in the Zongolica region of Mexico. 15 species of quelites are consumed mainly during the rainy season, whose local name is associated with the plant’s shape, smell and flavor. Changes in food patterns and land use threaten the permanence and consumption of these species. Indigenous and local knowledge is crucial for the use, management and conservation of this group of plants, whose consumption can be leveraged to address malnutrition and unhealthy food use.

Fire has been an integral part of ecosystem functioning in many biomes for a long time, but the increased intensity and frequency of wildfires often affect plant diversity and carbon storage. Prescribed burning is one of the alternatives to forest fuel management where the fire is controlled and carried out under a determined set of weather conditions and objectives. The effect of prescribed burning on plant diversity and carbon (C) storage has not been studied widely. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prescribed burning on plant diversity indices, biomass stocks, and soil C storage in the tropical highland forests of Southern Mexico. We assessed plant diversity and carbon stocks at 21 sampling sites: seven with prescribed burning, seven non-burning, and seven with wildfires. We calculated tree biodiversity indices, stand structural properties, and species composition among burning treatments. We quantified C stocks in vegetation biomass by using an allometric equation and forest litter by direct sampling. We analyzed 252 soil samples for soil organic C content and other properties. The results showed that the biodiversity index was higher in sites with prescribed burning (Shannon index, H = 1.26) and non-burning (H = 1.14) than in wildfire sites (H = 0.36). There was a greater similarity in plant species composition between non-burning and prescribed burning sites compared to wildfire sites. Prescribed burning showed a positive effect on soil carbon storage (183.9 Mg C ha⁻¹) when compared to wildfire (144.3 Mg C ha⁻¹), but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) in biomass stocks. Prescribed burning in this study conserved plant diversity as well as soil carbon stocks compared to non-burning, the opposite of what we found in wildfires.

Con el objetivo de caracterizar el suelo del agroecosistema maíz con los sistemas de producción convencional, agroecológico y mixto, para documentar e identificar estrategias que consideren los aspectos ambientales, sociales y económicos que conlleven a alternativas para la producción sostenible, se estudiaron las propiedades físico-químicas y biológicas de 35 muestras obtenidas en 28 ejidos de la región Frailesca, interpretadas con la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-021-RECNAT-2000. Los resultados indican una acidez generalizada para los tres sistemas con un pH de 5.05, 5.25 y 5.24, la capacidad intercambio catiónico es baja (13.96, 12.54, y 14.95 cmol(+) kg‑1) y niveles medios de materia orgánica (3.5, 2.58 y 3.45%). Así mismo, los macronutrientes, como el fósforo se encuentra en niveles altos (75.36, 74.78 y 45.05 mg kg‑1) y el potasio se encontró en niveles bajos (3.86, 3.12 y 2.66 mg kg‑1) y los micronutrientes se encuentran en niveles medios como el hierro (3.24, 2.03 y 2.62 mg kg‑1) y boro (1.58, 1.06 y 1.37 mg kg-1). Para el caso de la textura del suelo presentan suelos franco-arcillo-arenoso y franco-arenoso. Desde el punto de vista de las características biológicas del suelo, la macrofauna con el sistema agroecológico reportó mayor diversidad de seres vivos de acuerdo al índice de Shannon y Weaver (H’ = 1.121), destacan coleópteros, anélidos, himenópteros, isópteros y gasterópodos. En ese mismo sentido, para el caso de microorganismos sobresale en diversidad de microorganismos (H’ = 1.121) reportando entomopatógenos (Beauveria bassiana y Metarhizium anisopliae), fijadores de nitrógeno (Rhizobium, Azotobacter y Azospirillum) y hongos patógenos como Rizhoctonia, Fusarium y Alternaria y el sistema con menor diversidad fue el convencional con H’ = 0.789. Bajo estas condiciones el suelo, es necesario una estrategia que permita aumentar la calidad y las prácticas de agricultura puedan ser sostenibles.

El objetivo de la presente revisión es indagar sobre las interacciones biológicas de los microorganismos del suelo y su potencial biotecnológico en los sistemas agrícolas frente al panorama actual del cambio climático. En este sentido, se hace urgente la búsqueda de estrategias que permitan obtener sistemas productivos sostenibles y resilientes. En virtud de ello, el uso de microorganismos benéficos, constituye una estrategia para el desarrollo de sistemas agrícolas más sostenibles y reducir el impacto negativo de productos químicos y fertilizantes. Investigaciones sobre consorcios microbianos, han permitido estudiar los mecanismos que emplean los microorganismos para establecerse y permanecer en el sistema suelo. Los microorganismos del suelo no actúan de manera aislada, se dinamizan mediante múltiples interacciones, las cuales, contribuyen al buen funcionamiento y equilibrio ecológico del sistema edáfico. Las diferentes funciones que realizan los microorganismos en los sistemas agrícolas, están influenciadas por factores bióticos y abióticos; para lo cual, han desarrollado una capacidad de adaptación admirable y útil para el diseño de estrategias que permitan mitigar los efectos negativos del cambio climático. La inoculación con microorganismos, mejora la disponibilidad de nutrientes para las plantas; contribuye al aprovechamiento de una fuente de nutrientes renovables e incrementan la disponibilidad de nutrientes poco móviles en el suelo, como lo es el fósforo (P).