COMMON BEAN AND LOW COST INOCULATION AS COMPONENTS OF SUSTAINABLE AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN DURANGO, MEXICO

摘要

Agroforestry provide a feasible opportunity to realize multiple products in the same soil portion and an opportunity for landowners to diversify their management systems and sources of economic income (Clason and Robinson, 2000). Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is considered as an important option to produce food in agroforestry systems used for sustainable agriculture in the state of Durango in North-Central, Mexico. In recent years the area used for fast-growing commercial forest plantations (Pinus greggii) has been increased in Durango in order to reduce forest wood extraction and forest degradation. Enhanced productivity is necessary for landowners in order to avoid economic losses caused by the long time period observed during pine timber production. In Durango, the main food and forage crops are common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), maize (Zea mays) and oat (Avena sativa). Alternatives are also needed in order to reduce chemical fertilizer use and production costs in annual and perennial crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inoculation on forage and seed yield in common bean, maize and oat grown under a Christmas-tree plantation used as agroforestry system in Durango, Mexico.