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Resumo

Weeds growing in Mesoamerican traditional maizefields, or milpas , represent a reserve of genetic resources and knowledge. To explore tendencies on the influence of natural and cultural attributes on milpa weeds and their knowledge, we studied species richness, perception, and use of adventitious plants in milpas across an agroclimatic and cultural gradient in Altiplano , Rioverde , and Huasteca milpas in the state of San Luis Potosi, México. The study involved semi-structured interviews and recording weed presence in milpas. Farmers from Huasteca , who often used herbicides and fertilizers in milpas, had a negative perception of weeds and their milpas registered a lower species richness. By contrast, farmers from Altiplano, who mostly managed milpas without industrial inputs, perceived weeds in an ambivalent manner (neither positive nor negative) and their milpas registered the highest species richness. Thus, an association between weed richness and management practices was identified. Farmers collectively recognized 67% of the species present in milpas, and from the total number of species registered, interviewees mentioned specific medicinal uses of nine species that have not been scientifically studied although those species have other scientifically known uses. Forage was the most common use of weeds in milpas from Altiplano and Rioverde , food in Rioverde , and agronomic as soil fertilizer in Huasteca . Milpa farmers collectively still preserve knowledge about weeds that showed differences depending on the uses and region. Promoting milpa agroecosystem ethnobiological knowledge is important to maintain sustainable practices and biodiversity.

Referências Citadas