Abstract

FORTANELLI-MARTINEZ, Javier; CARLIN-CASTELAN, Fernando; LOZA-LEON, Jéssica G.  and  AGUIRRE-RIVERA, Juan R.. Crop patterns in small irrigated commercial gardens of Mexquitic, San Luis Potosí, México. Agrociencia [online]. 2006, vol.40, n.2, pp.257-268. ISSN 2521-9766.

The small horticultural systems of Mexquitic, San Luis Potosí, are intensive and complex with respect to the spacial and temporal arrangements of their irrigated crops. In the present study, crop patterns are differentiated in a sample of fifteen gardens by means of multivariate classification applied to monthly records of the relative area occupied by the crops in each garden, as a methodological contribution to the study of complex agricultural systems. Results show the existence of a spring crop pattern and another of summer, differentiated mainly by changes in the ornamental species that are cultivated. In addition, it was found that the growers that prefer short cycle herbaceous species, cultivate smaller surfaces, have a lower average age and manage fewer species than those who cultivate biennial and perennial species.

Keywords : Horticulture; agricultural systems; TWINSPAN.