[Maize improvement and production strategies for the semiarid and arid climate in Central and Northern Mexico] | Mejoramiento de maiz y estrategias de produccion para temporal de la region semiarida y arida del Centro-Norte de Mexico
1997
Luna F., M. | Gutierrez Sanchez, J.R.
The highland region in the North-Central part of Mexico is located in the states of Zacatecas, Durango, San Luis Potosi, Aguascalientes and Guanajuato. In this region, 760,000 ha are sown to maize under rainfed conditions, particularly in microregions where the crop can take advantage of runoff waters or residual moisture. Approximately 400,000 ha in this region have 200 to 400 mm of rainfall over a period of 70 to 90 days, with average temperatures from 15 to 20 Grades C. In the remaining area, average temperatures are the same but rainfall is between 350 to 500 mm over a period of 80 to 100 days. Sixty percent of these highlands soils have a depth of 50 cm or less with an organic matter content lower than 1 Per cent; therefore, moisture retention capacity is very low. Maize breeding efforts have produced open pollinated varieties of a range of maturity types (from 95 to 120 days), developed from landrace populations adapted to the area's typical late-season drought. Maize fertilization rate is from 20-30-00 to 60-40-00. Water harvesting practices are recommended. Maize stubble is used as cattle feed.
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