Abstract

CABALLERO SALINAS, Juan Carlos et al. Competition of the use of corn stubble in mixed farming systems in Chiapas. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.1, pp.91-104. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v8i1.74.

The conservation agriculture (AC) improves soil and increases the resilience of agricultural ecosystems to climate change. One of the principles of AC is the retention of stubble as soil cover, this is affected in mixed farming systems, due to its use as fodder. The opportunity cost of using corn stubble (RM) as soil cover vs feed for livestock was evaluated and it were analyzed the determinants that impacted on the use of crop residues (RC) as soil mulch. The evaluation was carried out in two agroclimatic and socioeconomically contrasting locations in Chiapas, Mexico. For the opportunity cost per locality, we considered: the yield of stubble, the period that could maintain the existing stubble to a cattle herd and the amounts of N, P and K that could release the RC in the soil. With the ordered probit model the determinants for the stubble use were analyzed. The opportunity cost of using maize residues as cattle feed for both communities was determined at $914.00 for New Mexico and at $ 52.00 for Francisco I. Madero, values indicating a strong limitation for their use as soil cover in the AC system, mainly in the first location. It was also determined that the greater the size of the cattle herd, the greater the demand for stubble as fodder and the less availability for its use as a soil cover. On the contrary, the availability increases as producers have larger surface paddocks.

Keywords : conservation agriculture; maize-livestock system; opportunity cost.