Método específico para la evaluación medioambiental de los lagos de origen glaciar pirenaicos y su aplicación al lago de Sabocos

This study proposes a new method to asses the environmental state of the Pyrenean glacial lakes, based on the Water Framework Directive, the concept of ecological state and inspired by widely tested and used methodologies. Starting from a good ecological state as a reference term, a series of matrices are used to identify and characterize all anthropic impacts and pressures. Information regarding the most significant ones is then compared with the criteria of a panel of experts and finally the results are summarised in ICPA matrices of Impacts, Consequences, Proposals of Corrective Measures, and Applicability. This method has been tested in the glacial lake of Sabocos, finding that its ecological quality is lower than expected, based on the identification of some severe impacts. In order to subdue them, it has been proposed a plan of correcting measures and valued its applicability.En este trabajo se propone un nuevo método para la evaluación medioambiental de los lagos pirenaicos de origen glaciar a partir de la Directiva Marco del Agua, fundamentado en el concepto de estado ecológico e inspirado en metodologías ampliamente contrastadas. Partiendo de un estado ecológico de referencia se identifican y caracterizan todas las presiones e impactos antropogénicos mediante el empleo de una serie de matrices adaptadas. Los impactos más significativos son contrastados por un panel de expertos. Finalmente, los resultados se expresan mediante matrices ICPA de Impactos, Consecuencias, Propuestas de medidas correctoras y Aplicabilidad. Este método de evaluación medioambiental se ha aplicado al lago de Sabocos. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una calidad ecológica inferior a la esperada y que algunos de los impactos identificados son severos. Con el objetivo de mitigar tales afecciones, se han propuesto una serie de medidas correctoras y evaluado su aplicabilidad

AGRONOMIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABILITY: CHARACTERISTICS AND MEASUREMENT IN Agave tequilana Weber IN THE SIERRA DE AMULA REGION, JALISCO

This article qualitative evaluation of the sustainable management in blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber) agroecosystems, in Sierra Amula region of the Jalisco state, Mexico. Sixteen sites were evaluated in an altitudinal gradient ranging from 777 to 1345 masl. Six principles considered by Altieri (1999) as the basic elements of a sustainable management of the agroecosystem, were used to construct an Index of Agroecosystem Sustainable Management (IMSA). Four levels of this index were identified: values lower than 50 % were considered unsustainable management, 51 to 66.6 % scarcely sustainable management, 66.7 to 83.2 % mediumly sustainable management and 83.3 to 100 % highly sustainable management. Of the 16 sites evaluated, two were classified as unsustainable management, six was scarcely sustainable management, five as medially sustainable management and three as highly sustainable management

CHARACTERIZATION OF VANILLA PRODUCTION SYSTEMS (Vanilla planifolia A.) ON ORANGE TREE AND MESH SHADE IN THE TOTONACAPAN REGION

A characterization of production systems of Vanilla planifolia Andrews was carried out, one under orange trees and the other under mesh shade (50% brightness), was conducted through the identification of technical and climatic variables that may affect the yield of vanilla plantations in the Totonacapan region, in the Mexican states of Puebla and Veracruz. The characterization was conducted based on the theoretical approach of agrosystems, and by applying the nonparametric technique, chi square. The information was obtained through the application of a structured questionnaire to 99 producers in the region. The results indicate that on vanilla crop yield, the feature with the highest incidence is the number of pollinated flowers per pot, so that in vainillales with proper management must pollinate from five to seven flowers per pot and vainillales where the plants are not vigorous should pollinate three to four flowers per pot. So far  the system under orange trees represents the best alternative in terms of yield for producers. The vanilla production system under orange trees showed a maximum yield of 1.2 ton ha-1 which exceeded the yield of the mesh shade production system of 435 kg. Based on the traditional knowledge of producers, the most important factors that determine the proper development of the vanilla pods in the production system under orange three are: nutrition (21%), moisture (19%) and pollination (16%). While for the production system mesh shade are: nutrition (20%), temperature (15%) and moisture (14%)

EVALUATION OF TWO SYSTEMS OF PRODUCTION FOR MEXICAN LIME (Citrus aurantifolia, Swingle) IN GUERRERO, MEXICO

The system of conventional integrated management (MIL-C) and organic production (MIL-O) was evaluated in a commercial Orchard of ‘Mexican’ lime (Citrus aurantifolia, Swingle). Agro-ecological and economic evaluations include: nutritional analysis, vegetative growth, yields, quality of the fruit and financial analysis. In yield per year and accumulated fruit harvested there were no significant statistical differences between systems of production. In change vegetative growth was statistically different, the MIL-C systems increase 52 and 23 % the length and diameter of vegetative shoots respectively, compared to the MIL-O systems. The quality of the fruits had significant statistical difference, the MIL-C increase the rate of color (52 %), firmness (38 %) and the thickness of the flavedo (5.3 %) with respect to the MIL-O; in the internal quality of fruit the MIL-O increased the volume of juice (10 %), °Brix (3 %) and acid citric (8 %) with respect to the MIL-C. The higher benefit/cost ratio was obtained with MIL-C using the rural price. Two years of assessment suggest that the MIL-C system could be applied widely in the State of Guerrero. Also the system of MIL-O showed possibility of success, but it would take an envelope price to compensate for the reduction of profitability, to handle larger amounts of inputs for their adequate nutrition, pest and disease control