Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of Mesoamerica
The milpa system is the basis of traditional agriculture in Mesoamerica. It is based on a polyculture of maize (Zea mays L.), bean (Phaseolus spp.) and squash (Cucurbita spp.) and is associated with a great diversity of crops and wild species. The milpa has great cultural and historical importance b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fagro.2023.1115490/full |
| _version_ | 1797905080023777280 |
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| author | Simon Fonteyne José B. Castillo Caamal Santiago Lopez-Ridaura Jelle Van Loon Juan Espidio Balbuena Leodegario Osorio Alcalá Fermin Martínez Hernández Sylvanus Odjo Nele Verhulst |
| author_facet | Simon Fonteyne José B. Castillo Caamal Santiago Lopez-Ridaura Jelle Van Loon Juan Espidio Balbuena Leodegario Osorio Alcalá Fermin Martínez Hernández Sylvanus Odjo Nele Verhulst |
| author_sort | Simon Fonteyne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The milpa system is the basis of traditional agriculture in Mesoamerica. It is based on a polyculture of maize (Zea mays L.), bean (Phaseolus spp.) and squash (Cucurbita spp.) and is associated with a great diversity of crops and wild species. The milpa has great cultural and historical importance but can also be highly productive and provide sufficient and healthy diets for smallholder farmers. The milpa system is practiced less and less however, mainly due to socioeconomic changes, but also due to a lack of agronomic knowledge adapted to current conditions. To provide a starting point for new agronomic research, we reviewed the scientific literature to identify the current knowledge on milpa agronomy and determine research priorities to further improve the system. Given the wide diversity of conditions under which milpa is practiced, agronomic research is lacking, but indicates that improvements to the milpa can be made in all aspects of the milpa. 176 research articles on the milpa system were found in databases, of which 61 treated agronomic research. The main agronomic topics described in literature are crop variety, soil fertility management, weed management and productivity. Most research has focused only on maize and studies reporting on the associated crops are scarce. More research on all aspects of the milpa is needed to understand and improve the agronomy of the system under the changing conditions of modern agriculture. Reducing the workload associated with the milpa, as well as soil fertility and weed management can be identified as research priorities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:59:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d956da1532b24d6681ed0513b9a58c28 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-3218 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:59:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-d956da1532b24d6681ed0513b9a58c282023-02-16T10:16:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Agronomy2673-32182023-02-01510.3389/fagro.2023.11154901115490Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of MesoamericaSimon Fonteyne0José B. Castillo Caamal1Santiago Lopez-Ridaura2Jelle Van Loon3Juan Espidio Balbuena4Leodegario Osorio Alcalá5Fermin Martínez Hernández6Sylvanus Odjo7Nele Verhulst8International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, MexicoFaculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Autonomous University of Yucatan (UADY), Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, MexicoInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, MexicoUnión Rural de Productores de Cuautempan y Tetela, Tetela, Puebla, MexicoInstituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Oaxaca, Oaxaca, MexicoUniversidad Autonoma Chapingo, Zimatlan, Oaxaca, MexicoInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, MexicoInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, MexicoThe milpa system is the basis of traditional agriculture in Mesoamerica. It is based on a polyculture of maize (Zea mays L.), bean (Phaseolus spp.) and squash (Cucurbita spp.) and is associated with a great diversity of crops and wild species. The milpa has great cultural and historical importance but can also be highly productive and provide sufficient and healthy diets for smallholder farmers. The milpa system is practiced less and less however, mainly due to socioeconomic changes, but also due to a lack of agronomic knowledge adapted to current conditions. To provide a starting point for new agronomic research, we reviewed the scientific literature to identify the current knowledge on milpa agronomy and determine research priorities to further improve the system. Given the wide diversity of conditions under which milpa is practiced, agronomic research is lacking, but indicates that improvements to the milpa can be made in all aspects of the milpa. 176 research articles on the milpa system were found in databases, of which 61 treated agronomic research. The main agronomic topics described in literature are crop variety, soil fertility management, weed management and productivity. Most research has focused only on maize and studies reporting on the associated crops are scarce. More research on all aspects of the milpa is needed to understand and improve the agronomy of the system under the changing conditions of modern agriculture. Reducing the workload associated with the milpa, as well as soil fertility and weed management can be identified as research priorities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fagro.2023.1115490/fullthree sistersmaize-bean-squashMexicointercroppingGuatemalaCentral America |
| spellingShingle | Simon Fonteyne José B. Castillo Caamal Santiago Lopez-Ridaura Jelle Van Loon Juan Espidio Balbuena Leodegario Osorio Alcalá Fermin Martínez Hernández Sylvanus Odjo Nele Verhulst Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of Mesoamerica Frontiers in Agronomy three sisters maize-bean-squash Mexico intercropping Guatemala Central America |
| title | Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of Mesoamerica |
| title_full | Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of Mesoamerica |
| title_fullStr | Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of Mesoamerica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of Mesoamerica |
| title_short | Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of Mesoamerica |
| title_sort | review of agronomic research on the milpa the traditional polyculture system of mesoamerica |
| topic | three sisters maize-bean-squash Mexico intercropping Guatemala Central America |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fagro.2023.1115490/full |
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