Physicochemical Analysis of the Soil at Various Depths in a MIAF System in Veracruz, Mexico

Authors

  • Ángel Capetillo-Burela INIFAP
  • Catalino Jorge López-Collado Postgraduate College, Campus Veracruz (COLPOS) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3182-6027
  • Rigoberto Zetina-Lezama INIFAP
  • David Jesús Palma-López Postgraduate College, Campus Tabasco (COLPOS) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9606-0379
  • Eusebio Ortega-Jimenez Postgraduate College, Campus Veracruz (COLPOS)
  • Gustavo López-Romero Postgraduate College, Campus Veracruz (COLPOS)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28940/terralatinoamericana.v44i.2386

Keywords:

crop area, CO2, fruity, maize, organic matter

Abstract

The Milpa Intercropped with Fruit Trees system, implemented 22 years ago in the Los Tuxtlas region of Veracruz by scientists from INIFAP and the Colegio de Postgraduados, has determined that for every kilogram of maize produced under this system, 0.5 kg of soil is lost per year, whereas under conventional management, 35.5 kg of soil are lost per hectare per year. The objective of this study was to describe and identify the current status of soil physical and chemical properties (soil pH, electrical conductivity [EC], organic matter [OM], organic carbon [OC], texture, field capacity [FC], and carbon release [CO2]) at depths of 0–30 cm, 30–60 cm, and 60–100 cm, including a control treatment (conventional tillage + residue burning) in the MIAF-INIFAP module of Axochio, San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz. Twelve soil samples were collected, processed, classified into four treatments, and analysed under a completely randomized block design with three replications (T1 = 0-30 cm; T2 = 30-60 cm; T3 = 60-100 cm; T4 = control [conventional tillage + residue burning]). Statistically significant differences were found in OM, OC, and pH, whereas no significant differences were observed in EC and FC. Texture was clayey in Treatments 1, 2, and 4, and silty clay in Treatment 3. The greatest CO2 release occurred in Treatment 1, with a cumulative 28-day CO2 release of 1065.66 kg ha-1, followed by Treatments 2, 3, and 4 with 962.44, 944.11, and 926.13 kg ha-1, respectively. It is concluded that soil depth exhibits differentiated behavior; therefore, each depth should be managed differently compared with the management practices applied in annual monocultures in the region.

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Author Biographies

Catalino Jorge López-Collado, Postgraduate College, Campus Veracruz (COLPOS)

Associate Research Professor. PhD, 2005. Texas A&M University. Master of Science. 1993. Colegio de Postgraduados. Montecillo, Mexico. Agricultural Engineer, 1988, Autonomous University of Chapingo, Mexico. Soil specialist and research professor at the Colegio de Postgraduados, Veracruz Campus, with more than 40 years of experience in the use, management, and conservation of soils and crop nutrition. He has participated in various national and international projects focused on improving soil resources; as well as teaching courses such as soil fertility and crop nutrition, carbon sequestration, fertilization models, Tropical Agroecosystems, and others. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3182-6027

Rigoberto Zetina-Lezama, INIFAP

PhD in Soil Science from the Postgraduate College, he is a soil specialist and researcher at INIFAP with more than 40 years of experience in the use, management, and conservation of soils and crop nutrition. He has participated as leader and co-leader of various national and international research projects in areas such as the MIAF system, germplasm banks, sugarcane, and others. He has taught various training courses for technicians, producers, officials, and students, as well as in the training of human resources (thesis students, change agents, lead producers, and others). He has also taught subjects at the Universidad Veracruzana Peñuela Campus and the Juan Rodriguez Clara Institute of Technology in Veracruz. He has published various scientific and technological articles in indexed journals and national and international conferences. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3469-0068

David Jesús Palma-López, Postgraduate College, Campus Tabasco (COLPOS)

Senior Research Professor 1994, PhD in Agronomic Sciences, Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine, France. 1985, Master of Science in Soil Science, Colegio Superior de Agricultura Tropical, Mexico. S.N.I: Level 1, as well as Regular member of the Mexican Academy of Science. He is a research professor at the Colegio de Postgraduados Campus, Tabasco with more than 35 years of experience in soil conservation and nutrition of annual, backyard, fruit and timber crops. He has participated in various national and international projects focused on improving soil conservation and crop nutrition resources, as well as being a research professor of various courses focused on soil and water resources. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9606-0379

Eusebio Ortega-Jimenez, Postgraduate College, Campus Veracruz (COLPOS)

Adjunct Research Professor. Ph.D. 2002. National Superior School of Agronomy. Rennes, France. Master of Science 1991. Colegio de Postgraduados. Mexico. Agricultural Engineer 1984. Instituto Tecnológico Agropecuario. Ursulo Galván. Veracruz, Mexico. Doctor of Science in Forages and Small Ruminant Management, as well as Research Professor at the Colegio de Postgraduados Campus, Veracruz with more than 35 years of experience in grassland management and analysis of tropical agroecosystems in the central zone of the state of Veracruz. He has participated in various national and international projects focused on improving soil resources and conservation, as well as teaching courses on small ruminants, tropical grasses, soil restoration, mushrooms and crop residues at the Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Veracruz. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1464-2202

Gustavo López-Romero, Postgraduate College, Campus Veracruz (COLPOS)

Associate Research Professor. PhD in Sciences. 2005. Colegio de Postgraduados, Mexico. Master of Sciences, 2000, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico. Agricultural Engineer, 1992. Autonomous University of Chapingo. PhD in Genetics, specifically in the genetic improvement of corn. He is also a researcher and professor at the Colegio de Postgraduados Campus, Veracruz. He has over 30 years of experience in soil conservation and management of annual crops such as corn and others. He has participated in various national and international projects focused on improving soil resources and increasing corn production and productivity. He also teaches courses focused on corn management, technology transfer, and epistemological aspects. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5498-7512

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Published

28-02-2026

How to Cite

Capetillo-Burela, Ángel, López-Collado, C. J., Zetina-Lezama, R., Palma-López, D. J., Ortega-Jimenez, E., & López-Romero, G. (2026). Physicochemical Analysis of the Soil at Various Depths in a MIAF System in Veracruz, Mexico. REVISTA TERRA LATINOAMERICANA, 44. https://doi.org/10.28940/terralatinoamericana.v44i.2386

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