Identification of soil properties associated with the peasant perception of the suitability of the land for growing organic coffee: the case of traditional agriculture in the “Mixteca Alta” mountains of Oaxaca, México

Abstract

ABSTRACT A failure to select a suitable location to grow organic coffee translates into low plantation productivity and degradation of such agroecosystems. Therefore, we need to know a priori the suitable environmental conditions. Twenty-eight soil profiles were described in this study in the Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca. Physical and chemical properties were measured, and a regression model approach identified the main properties associated with the peasant perception of soil suitability for organic coffee production. We found that peasant perception of high soil suitability is in altitudes higher than 1400 masl, soil depth greater than 1 m, slightly basic condition in its maximum pH value, 0.4 to 1 dS m−1 of Electric Conductivity at its maximum, and low values of Na.