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Assessment of an Organic Vineyard as a Strategic Multifactorial Node in the Conservation of Natural Resources in an Intermountain Territory of the Sonoran Desert, Mexico
1  Division of Biological Sciences of the Universidad de la Sierra. Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Academic Editor: Esmaeil Fallahi

Abstract:

Grape cultivation in Sonora, Mexico is one of the most notable but it is restricted to certain areas and with a productive focus in a conventional way. This work evidences the development of the establishment of an organic vineyard as a novel cultivation pattern in an intermountain valley agrosystem of the Sonoran desert, Mexico. The approach is conducted by conceptualizing the vineyard as a Strategic Multifactorial Node (SMN) with ecological influence towards its immediate surroundings, evaluated from endogenous variables of the vineyard itself and those linked to the agrosystem of direct influence. Components are distinguished that promote the conservation of the hydric-edaphic binomial, and the ecological maintenance of ecosystem users of the vineyard such as wild fauna and xeric and weed vegetation. The cuttings used were rooted in a sand chamber at a depth of 0.8 m for 60 ± 3 days. Subsequently, they were sown in the middle part of the furrow at a distance of 0.4 m, and at a depth of 48 ± 5.3 cm. The length and diameter of the cutting at the time of sowing were 57 ± 7.4 cm and 12 ± 6.5 mm respectively; with 4 ± 2 nodes per cutting; 17 ± 3.6 cm of root length when planted and 21 ± 0.9 mm in diameter on the main stem after the summer rains. Irrigation was by drip, with a sprinkler space of 70 cm, an irrigation frequency during the summer of 2.5 ± 1.7 hours/day/week, and 2.7 ± 0.6 hours/week in autumn-winter. A 96% weed cover percentage was maintained and the presence of entomofauna and avifauna was identified in a ratio of 78:22. In the exogenous component to the vineyard, the degree of influence for the elements of the desert agrosystem was 0.98 for Conservation Areas of Soil, 0.79 for edaphic Organic Matter, 0.97 for maintenance of water, and 0.96 for Mountain Microorganisms. The vineyard in the first phase of establishment increased its growth parameters, also favored the lateral conservation of the water - soil binomial, limited erosion, decreased soil loss, and increased soil fertilization. The presence of buffer areas is shared with native stands, the presence of wild fauna in the agrosystem is maintained in this first stage of establishment

Keywords: Complex System, intra-ecosystemic links, Integrated strategic Management, Agroecosystemic Biodiversity, Cropping pattern, Sustainable Development Goals, Edaphic fertilization, EU & NOP Standars
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