Abstract

NAVA, Fidel Diego; RUIZ VEGA, Jaime; HERRERA SUAREZ, Miguel  and  GARCIA DE LA FIGAL COSTALES, Armando Eloy. Current status of the animal traction use in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico: A critical analysis. Rev Cie Téc Agr [online]. 2013, vol.22, n.1, pp. 76-84. ISSN 2071-0054.

Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico is among most densely populated state zones and most food consumed comes from the “milpa”, a production system based on the exploitation of small extensions of up to 1,88 ha and the use of animal traction as a primary energy source for soil tillage. Given the importance of this problem it is developed this work for analyzing critically the current status of the use of animal traction in the Oaxaca Central Valleys. For completing this objective it was initially characterized the situation of crop production in this zone and analyzed tillage technology used in it. Finally it becomes clear the current employment situation of animal traction in the cultivation of these areas, specifying the problems of using wooden ards and metal ploughs. The results show the milpa production system, as a system of low-input based on crop association and in the employment of animal traction as a viable alternative to soil tillage, from the standpoint of technological and economic. It evidenced the need of replace the wooden plows by metal plows to fit the conditions and requirements of the milpa crop, which also enables the exchange of tools and keep the good features of traditional Mexican ard in terms of manageability, weight and versatility.

Keywords : plough; wooden ard; tillage; soil.

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