Abstract

NARCIA VELASCO, Mariano; CASTILLO QUIROZ, David; VAZQUEZ RAMOS, José Antonio  and  BERLANGA REYES, Carlos Alejandro. Technical shift of Lechuguilla ( Agave lechuguilla Torr.) in Northeastern Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2012, vol.3, n.9, pp.81-88. ISSN 2007-1132.

Lechuguilla ( Agave lechuguilla ) is one of the main non timber forest resources with highest socioeconomic value in the semiarid and dry zones of Northeastern Mexico. Harvesting of this species, represents one of the major economic activities to the people in these regions, since it provides support for near 31,000 harvesters and their families. The objective of this study was to determine the technical shift of lechuguilla ( Agave lechuguilla .) in natural populations from four provenances of the Northeast of Mexico: Jaumave, Paredon, La Sauceda and Marte, under different climatic conditions. The study was started in April 2005, when the buds ("cogollos") of lechuguilla were cut from all the plants selected in each location. Since then, the growth of buds was recorded monthly until the average height of each plant reached 25 cm, minimum size allowed for collection by the NOM-008-RECNAT-1996 Mexican Official Regulation. The experiment was established under a divided lots design in each location, and a significance level of p ≤ 0.001 was found. Jaumave location was the first to reach the technical shift 14 months after cutting of the head, with an average height of 25.54 cm. The plantas of La Sauceda reached the technical shift after 22 months, while the other provenances for Paredón extended to 25 months and Marte to 24 months.

Keywords : Agave lechuguilla Torr.; cogollo; northeast of Mexico; natural populations; provenances; technical shift.

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