LAND USE CHANGE IN PUEBLA-TLAXCALA VALLEY AND ITS IMPACT ON MAIZE AND BEAN PRODUCTION

Abstract

It is a common practice to perform changes of land use without any planned strategy. This paper shows how the methodology of agro-ecological zones can be helpful in decision making processes involving changes of land use and assesing the human and industrial settlements impact on the different land classes of the Puebla-Tlaxcala valley in México. The results indicate that lack in planning has resulted in lands being lost for agricultural use, and annual economical losses in the order of 11 to 44 or 24 to 52 thousand of USA dollars as compared to maize (Zea mays L.) or bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crops respectively, on those areas. It is also shown that the valley is not self-sufficient in terms of those two basic crops since nutrient requirements, expresed as vegetable calories, are not covered for the population.