Ortiz et al-Contemporary Influence of Indigenous Soil.pdf

Colegio de Postgraduados en Ciencias Agrícolas
Instituto de Recursos Naturales
Programa en Edafología
CONTEMPORARY INFLUENCE OF
INDIGENOUS SOIL (LAND)
CLASSIFICATION IN MEXICO
C. Ortiz, C. Gutiérrez, A. Licona y
P. Sánchez
August, 2004
Área de Génesis, Morfología
y Clasificación de Suelos

Ethnopedology
-In Mexico the
Ethnopedological
research has been
carried out for
more than 20 years;
-From the first works
we noticed:
A confrontation

First Problems
After some studies it was
found:
1) Our lack of preparation
for communicating with
farmers;
soil – land
2) Our necessity of a
change of mentality
Equality conditions

Local Land
Knowledge
•Farmers perceive and use
lands as areas;
•Their nomenclature is simple
(Sandy land or Black land)
•Land characterization is
taking into account many
attributes

Local Land Taxonomy
In the first study
An erroneous conclusion
Local land – two-dimensional
Soil – three-dimensional.
The characterization of topsoil:
+ Analytical methods of Soil
Science
+ Multivariate statistical methods.
Land Sand ECe
Class % dS/m
ARENA (Sandy) 62 1.2
BARRO 19 0.9
BLANCA 44 0.9
LAMA 39 0.8
CACAHUATUDA 21 2.3
SALINA (Saline) 29 67.7
BA
CA
BL
AR
LA
SA
+------------------------+
0 0.5

Nomenclature
State of Yucatan
MAYAN
GROUP
(Perez,1984)
-Akalché
-Kancab
-Pus-Lum
-Yaax-hom
State of Hidalgo State of Mexico
OTOMI
GROUP
(Quiroz, 1983)
-Pehai
-T’axhai
-’Bomuhai
-Xidohai
HUASTEC
GROUP
(Castro, 2001)
-Tetic Tlalli
-Yayac Tlalli
-Atlalli
-Tepetatl Tlalli
MATLAZINCAN
GROUP
(Abasolo, 2001)
-Xalpa
-Atlal Chichiltli
-Chinampa
-Tlalli Cliltli

Local Land Classification
• The problem of dimensions have
originated a low correspondence
between taxa
• Other options:
Berlin et al. (1973) on Folk
Taxonomy of biological
phenomena

Hierarchical Levels of
Folk Taxonomy
(Berlin et al., 1973)
Level 0: Unique Beginner
Level 1: Life form
Level 2: Generic
UB
Lf1 Lf2
Gn1 Gn2
Gn3 Gn4

Local Land Classification
MATLAZINCAN GROUP (Abasolo, 2001)
ATLAL
CLILTI
(Black)
TA CUALLI TLALLI
(Labor land)
CHINAMPA
(Chinampa)
NIN TLALLI TEGUAN
(The Land of all)
ATLAL
CHICHILTLI
(Yellow)
AMO QUINEQUI
TLALLI (Non
Labor land)
CLALTIQUE
Formal taxonomy,
• Hierarchical levels
• Nomenclature and
• A relationship
between them

Land Classification
•Studies generate more
information and the
understanding of native
knowledge was increased;
•We recognize that the
hierarchical levels were
artificial;

LAND CLASSIFICATION
USES
Land Classes are related with:
a) Adaptable crops
b) Manures and Fertilizers
c) Land Management (labor quantity
and tools)
d) Weeds: Localization and use
(Food, Forage, Medicinal and
Ornamental plants);
e) Specific processes of Land
Reclamation;
f) Other purposes (Materials of
Construction, Human Settlements)

Relationship with the Scientific
Soil Classification
The Soil Classification in Mexico
• Legend of FAO/Unesco, version 1970,
right now obsolete.
•The American System or Soil Taxonomy,
in few cases.
The main problems:
1) Lack of interest;
2) Scarcity of Human and Economical
Resources;
3) Lack of laboratories.

Scientific Soil Classification in
Mexico
•Carried out with missing data
•With data generated with different
procedures.
•Classification has a low utility.
•The results are reported at Subunit
(FAO) or Subgroup (Taxonomy)
levels.

Soil Classification
From the first Ethnopedological
studies, representative soils were
described and classified for each
land class
The local land classification it is
more detail than Subunit or
Subgroup levels.
It was necessary classify soils with
all scientific requirements

South Veracruz
(Sánchez et al., 2001)
-Sugar cane area;
-33 land classes
on 48,200 ha.;
-Systems:
Soil Taxonomy (1999)
and
WRB (1998)
Soil Taxonomy
No. of Land
Order Subgroup Classes
Entisols Aquic Udifluvents 1
Mollic Udifluvents 4
Oxyaquic Udifluvents 2
Typic Udifluvents 5
Typic Udorthents 2
Oxyaquic Udorthents 1
Humaqueptic Fluvaquents 1
Inceptisols Fluventic Haplumbrepts 1
Oxyaquic Haplumbrepts 1
Entic Haplumbrepts 1
Fluventic Umbric Dystrochrepts 2
Fluvaquentic Dystrochrepts 1
Oxyaquic Dystrochrepts 1
Mollisols Fluvaquentic Hapludolls 2
Fluventic Hapludolls 8

Entisols
Inceptisols
Mollisols
SOIL ORDERS, SSS 1999.

Fluventic Hapludolls
Amarillenta
del Espinal
Polvillo
húmedo
Polvillo de
Majahual
Negra
arenosa 2

White Lands
(Gutiérrez, 1997)
-Ejido of San Salvador Atenco,
State of Mexico
-Small area: < 1000 ha;
-Ethnical group: Acolhua – Aztec
11 Soil
profiles
Mollisols
100%
Calciustolls
100%
Calciustolls
Petrocalcic Pachic
Petrocalcic Calciustolls (73%)

Tupuri Lands
(Alcalá, 2002)
-Tarascan plateau – Andosols
-Great area: 7750 km2;
-Ethnical group: Purhepecha
12 Soil
profiles
Andisols
100%
Udivitrands
17%
Hapludands
83%
Hapludands
Typic Eutric Hydric
Typic Hapludands (50%)
Udivitrands
Typic Humic

Results
The probability of
finding in the same land
class, similar soils is
very high.
The Scientific Soil
Classification is carried
out only when
communication is
required among ethnical
groups or among Soil
Scientists.

Basic Supposition of Soil Surveys
In a given area, the knowledge of SOILS does not
EXIST, and it is generated with the method of the
soil survey.
When we change the supposition, it is possible to
change the procedure.

Cartographic procedure
SMALL AREAS
1. Base map: Plane of community;
2. Key informants: People that have
had political administrative charges
(1 or 2 people);
3. Tours plot by plot.
BASE MAP
ASK ?
(Ortiz, Pájaro y Ordaz, 1990)
S B
A
LAND CLASSES
MAP
L
A: Arena; L: Lama
B: Barro y S: Salina

Maps of Communities
ESTADO
DE
MÉXICO
Municipio de Texcoco
TEXCOCO

Maps of Communities (2)
TOCUILA
BOYEROS
-36 Communities
-9 States
TEQUEXQUINAHUAC
PURIFICACIÓN

Quality of Maps
Precision and Accuracy
criteria
Three types of soil maps of
Atenco Ejido:
1) Phases of soil series map;
2) Edaphological chart;
3) Local land classes map
(Lleverino et al., 2000)

Sampling sites

RESULTS
(Lleverino et al., 2000)
PROCEDURE PRECISION
(%)
EDUCATIONAL
OFFICIAL
LOCAL LANDS
4
8
76
ACCURACY
(%)
14
0
88

Photographic patterns and
landscapes of land classes
SLIME LAND (LAMA)
Both sides of the rivers like
spills.
PEANUT LAND
(CACAHUATUDA):
Mixture of small specks with
angular shape.
SALINE LAND
Mixture of big and small
specks with round shape.

REGIONAL LAND CLASSES MAP
Sa
La
Ca
Ca
La
La
Ar
Ca
Pa
Br
Bc
La
Bc Br
Ca
Ja
La
La
Br
Bc
Ar
Ar
Br
LAND CLASSES
Ar: Arena
Bc: Blanca
Br: Barro
Ca: Cacahuatuda
Ja: Jaboncillo
La: Lama
Pa: Pantano
Sa: Salina
(Licona, et al., 1993)

Edaphological chart
COMPARISON
Land classes map

REGIONAL LAND CLASSES MAP FOR SUGAR
CANE AREA OF SOUTH VERACRUZ
(Sánchez et al., 2002)
48200 ha
Arena
Barrial
Negra

Final Comments
The Native Land Classification
Taxonomic and Cartographic Influences
with many purposes
and
We hope that these results can be
usefull for countries less developed