Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

The chili fruit (Capsicum annuum L.) is widely consumed for its rich nutrient content and health benefits, making it an essential component of a healthy diet. Despite these benefits, conventional production systems can cause ecological issues, including greenhouse gas emissions and increased soil salinity. This highlights the need for sustainable farming practices. This research evaluated the impact of bioinoculation with native strains of Bacillus velezensis, Bacillus subtilis, and Azospirillum brasilensis, on the yield and bioactive compound content of serrano chili fruits in the Comarca Lagunera. Bioinoculation with native strains, combined with a 50% reduction in chemical fertilization, produced similar results to those obtained with full chemical fertilization in terms of fruit weight with 6.07 g and 6.15 g respectively, in terms of yield 33 Mg ha-1 and 32 Mg ha-1, amount of phenols 6.27 mg AG 100 g-1 BF and 6.56 mg AG 100 g-1, vitamin C 0.82 mg g-1 BF and 1.10 mg g-1 BF while for capsaicin 269.25 µg g-1 of BS and 274.75 µg g-1 of BS in the same order. The results demonstrate that this methodology can be a sustainable alternative, allowing for a decrease in chemical fertilizer use while promoting soil health through the bioinoculation of native bacteria, which are ef fective when adapted to abiotic stress factors.

In forest ecosystems, litterfall plays a fundamental role in nutrient transfer within the plant-soil system. The objective of this study was to evaluate litterfall deposition, nutrient input and ef ficient use of the macronutrients in three forest ecosystems (Pine, Oak and Pine-Oak) in Galeana, Nuevo León, located in northeastern México, under the hypothesis that each plan community exhibits distinct patterns due to its structure and diversity. Ten litterfall traps of 1 m2 were randomly placed in a 2500 m2 plot (50 m × 50 m) in each forest ecosystem. The collections of deposited material were conducted biweekly to obtain a monthly representation of litterfall over a 16-month period. Litterfall was highest in the Pine ecosystem (579.74 g m-2 year-1), followed  by  Pino-Oak (486.40 g m-2 year-1) and Oak (362.49 g m-2 year-1) ecosystems. The order nutrient deposition was Ca > K > Mg > P, with the highest nutrient concentration found in the Pine-Oak ecosystem and the lowest in the Pine ecosystem. Regarding nutrient ef ficient use, Mg and P were identified as limiting elements in all three ecosystems, while Ca and K showed the highest concentrations in the litterfall. The results of the highest nutrition deposition were not related to the amount of leaf litterfall, evidencing spatial and temporal variation in leaf litter production and nutrient deposition. Therefore, the litterfall, nutrient production and their use ef ficiency depend on the plan diversity and chemical composition of litterfall in each ecosystem, as well as in climate and species phenology.

The impact of river water pollution on irrigated agricultural production systems is related to the accumulation of pollutants in the soil. The main objective of this study was to perform a spatial analysis of Nexapa River pollution and the risk it poses to agricultural lands near the river. The WASP model was used to simulate the transport and concentration of total nitrogen, nitrate, total phosphorus, cadmium, chromium, and lead in the Nexapa River. A spatial analysis was performed using the model estimates and the land-use and vegetation map to identify the agricultural areas most at risk of contamination from wastewater discharges. The highest pollutant concentrations estimated with the model were: total nitrogen (20.04 mg L-1), nitrate (7.03 mg L-1), total phosphorus (2.80 mg L-1), cadmium (0.002 mg L-1), chromium (0.085 mg L-1), and lead (0.009 mg L-1). Two areas of greatest risk to contamination associated with the use of water from the Nexapa River were identified: one in southern Atlixco and the other in northern and southern Izúcar de Matamoros. A limitation of the modeling was the unavailability of point source discharge data and the lack of access to discharge facilities for wastewater sampling; therefore, samples were taken at the river discharge sites. This study is pioneering in river modeling in the Puebla Valley. It is concluded that the WASP model is a useful tool for analyzing the spatial and temporal dynamics of pollutant concentrations in the Nexapa River and for predicting potential contamination risk areas and the need for intervention measures in the Huaquechula sub-basin.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) make the application of reduced doses of synthetic fertilizers more ef ficient, stimulating crop growth and productivity. The objective the present study is  to  evaluate  the  combined  ef fect  of  Rhizoglomus  intraradices, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila and a reduced dose of synthetic fertilizer on morpho-productivity and mineral content of cucumber under greenhouse conditions. A completely randomized design was used with the following treatments: 100% synthetic fertilization (SF); R. intraradices + SF 50 % (Ri+SF50%); S. rhizophila + SF 50% (Sr+SF50%), and R. intraradices + S. rhizophila + SF 50% (Ri+Sr+SF50%) using 200 plants per treatment. The following are calculated as: height (cm), stem diameter (mm), number of leaves and per plant: number of buds, male and female flowers, number of tendrils, greenness index (Iv), number and weight of fruits (g), total weight of fruit/plant (kg), yield (kg m-2), mineral content of N, P, K, Ca and Mn in %, colony forming units (CFU) and mycorrhizal colonization. The data were processed through an analysis of variance according to Tukey’s criterion at 95% confidence. The results indicate that plants with Ri+Sr+FS50% significantly increased (P ≤ 0.001) the height (24.18 cm), stem diameter (6.40 mm), number of leaves (18.35), tendrils (3.10), male flowers (0.4), greenness index (256.95), female flowers (8.90), number of fruits (8.6) and yield (15.92 kg m-2), compared to the application of 100% synthetic fertilizer (FS). The use of beneficial microorganisms in combination with a reduced dose of synthetic fertilizers increases cucumber productivity, therefore, it may constitute a sustainable alternative in agricultural systems, reducing production costs and decreasing environmental pollution, safeguarding human and animal health.

Multiple indexes are used to assess water scarcity in irrigated agriculture, such as the Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI), the Agricultural Water Stress Index (AWSI), the three-dimensional indices (WSIGreen, WSIBlue, WSIGrey), and the Water Use Ef ficiency Index (WUEI). However, these indices do not account for the cumulative water stress throughout the agricultural cycle, nor do they integrate real water footprints under scarcity conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the Total Water Stress Index (TWSI) and the Water Requirement Ef ficiency Index  (WREI) in agricultural crops of an irrigation module, using meteorological and physiological information for the Baseline (LB) and hydrometric, agricultural, and water footprint data for the Real Condition (CR). The research was empirical-associative in nature, with a non-experimental design, and analyzed agricultural and hydrometric statistics as well as water footprints (green, blue, and total) under both LB and CR scenarios. Furthermore, meteorological data simulated by the WXGEN climate generator were processed in the CROPWAT sof tware to calculate crop irrigation requirements in both scenarios. The results include four mathematical expressions for calculating the TWSI and the WREI. Under LB, the module’s total water footprint was 12 504.57 m³ Mg–¹, while under CR it was 8 075.78 m³ Mg–¹. The average TWSI was 45.43%, and the average WREI was 54.57%. The main limitations were the lack of in situ measured meteorological and physiological data. Nevertheless, the TWSI and WREI indices proved to be ef fective tools for quantifying total water stress and irrigation requirement ef ficacy, since the TWSI and WREI, calculated using the potential water footprints of the Baseline (LB) and the real water footprints of the Real Condition (CR), provided a robust methodological framework for sustainable water management in irrigated agriculture under conditions of water scarcity and climatic variability.

Agricultural soil degradation is a global issue that negatively impacts productivity. Microorganisms with biotechnological potential play crucial roles in the remediation of contaminated soils and the enhancement of soil fertility. The research was conducted in the Microbiology laboratory of the Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo with the objective of characterizing microorganisms with biotechnological potential isolated from agricultural soils fertilized with chemical and organic fertilizers under controlled conditions. The variables evaluated were pH, colony forming units (CFU) ml-1, and optical density, hypocotyl length, vigor index, germination percentage and  germination index.  The  results  indicate  that  strains isolated from contaminatedsoil exhibit a higher microbial load, ranging from 7.40×106 to 2.58×108 CFU g-1. Strain Mo-7 showed tolerance to aluminum sulfate and phosphate solubilization activity, and MQ-6 showed high capacity to solubilize urea, phosphate and tolerance to Al2(SO4)3. Turbidity with pendimentalin, MQ-6 reached the highest optical density at 72 hours (2.03). The pH analysis in the presence of Al2(SO4)3, MQ-6 was higher (8.11). In cell concentration with Al2(SO4)3, MQ-6 maintained 8.80E+10 CFU ml-1. In vitro phytotoxicity with pendimentalin and Al2(SO4)3 on Oryza sativa seeds, MQ-6 achieved 100% germination, root length 6.83 cm and vigor index of 82.50. With Al2(SO4)3, MQ-6 achieved 100% germination, hypocotyl length 23.50 cm and high vigor index (303.00). These strains demonstrated their potential to biotransform soil-toxic molecules thereby promoting agricultural sustainability through bioremediation processes.

The Hueyateno micro-watershed is located in the upper part of the Sierra Norte de Puebla and covers 8347 ha. Between 1993 and 2023, it experienced significant land use and cover transformations, reflecting the ef fects of urban and agricultural expansion to the detriment of natural ecosystems. These changes caused forest cover loss, af fecting water regulation and soil stability, which represents a challenge for environmental sustainability. The aim of this study was to analyze spatial and temporal changes to identify transformation patterns and their implications. Landsat satellite images from 1993, 2014, and 2023 were used, processed through supervisedclassification in geographic information system sof tware, calculating change rates and transition matrices. Results show a forest loss of 2590.80 ha between 1993 and 2023, mainly converted into agricultural areas (1914.43 ha) and urban zones (656.10 ha). Urban growth was initially concentrated in the northern area, progressively extending to the central and southern zones, favored by flatter topographic conditions. Change rates revealed sustained urban expansion, while agricultural land experienced intense growth over 30 years. Territorial planning limitations contributed to landscape fragmentation and the loss of ecosystem services. Therefore, the findings highlight the need for comprehensive land management policies that balance socioeconomic development with environmental conservation. Moreover, integrating spatial and temporal analysis of land use change provides relevant information for designing sustainable strategies in similar micro-watersheds, underlining the importance of this study for informed decision-making.

Wastewater use in agriculture represents a global problem because of the presence of many organic micropollutants, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These substances have been reported to harm plant development and other biological processes in crops. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to evaluate the ef fect of three design factors and seasonality on removal ef ficiency of three drugs by wetlands treatments. Fif teen systems designed according to Latin square were constructed using the following input variables: plant type (Pl), hydraulic retention time (HRT), and type of porous medium (PM), and the output variables were the removal ef ficiencies of naproxen, ibuprofen, and diclofenac to evaluate the ef fect of seasonality. Fif teen samples were grouped into three time periods, and the removal ef ficiencies were statistically compared. The maximum removal percentages of 85.3, 79.0, and 81.8% were obtained for naproxen, ibuprofen, and diclofenac, respectively. Regarding the design factors, only HRT showed a significant ef fect on naproxen removal; however, neither MP nor Pl showed statistically significant variation. In the case of seasonality, better system performance was observed during the warmer period. Only HRT had a significant ef fect on removal ef ficiency, achieving ef ficiencies higher than 50%, which positions these systems as ef fective alternatives for removing these compounds.

Cocoa black pod disease (Phytophthora palmivora) poses a threat due to the drastic reduction in crop yield and the loss of quality in cocoa beans in Ecuador. An alternative to combat this pathogen could be the use of actinomycetes, which possess characteristics and metabolites that inhibit the growth of plant pathogens. The objective of this study was to identify rhizospheric actinomycetes with antagonistic activity against P. palmivora. Actinomycetes were isolated from soil samples of cacao crops. Five strains were characterized morphologically and biochemically. In vitro (dual culture assays) and in situ (on cacao pods) tests were carried out with the actinomycete strains and their metabolites. Dif ferences were found in the in vitro antagonistic ef fect of the actinomycete strains against P. palmivora. Strain ES3 obtained an inhibition percentage of 74%, followed by strains GC and GC2 with values of 64%. For the in vitro antagonistic ef fect of the actinomycete metabolites on P. palmivora, a dif ference was observed, with GC2 showing the highest inhibition (63%). Likewise, the severity percentage was reduced by up to 55% with strain GC2. The results indicate that actinomycetes have potential as a biocontrol agent for P. palmivora, particularly strain GC2, which showed the best results for in vitro and in situ inhibition of the phytopathogen.

Contradictory results regarding the ef fects of fire on the chemical properties of soil are found in the existing literature. This study evaluated the ef fects of burning on the pH, organic matter (OM), phosphorous (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) in the soil of savannas in the Benjamín Aceval district of the Paraguayan Humic Chaco, over the medium term (two years af ter the wildfire event). The selection of sampling sites was based on the Fire Severity Index (dNBR). The treatment factors were the type of land cover (savanna and flooded savanna), burn condition (burned and unburned), and sample depth (0-3 and 3-6 cm). Regarding pH, no significance was found with any factor or their interactions. For OM, a significant interaction was found between burn condition and sampling depth. For P, the interaction between the type of cover and depth was significant. Concerning C, M, and K, a significant ef fect was observed based on sampling depth. Overall, the results indicate that two years af ter the fire, the ef fects of burning on the chemical properties of the soil were limited and dependent on the evaluated variable.