Alternativa de manejo para el sistema maiz - frijol (Valle de Chimaltenango, Guatemala) : descripcion y evaluacion en fincas pequenas

Crop rotation is not practiced due to the scarcity of land and the need to grow enough maize and beans for food, and many farmers seek off-farm employment to defray non-food expenses. This study sought to find alternative cultivation methods to increase food production and provide a cash crop. Following a description of the traditional system of maize-bean intercropping, an alternative method is described. The alternative system proposes few changes; mainly, it attempts to reduce production costs by substituting chicken manure (gallinaza) for mineral fertilizers. A comparative analysis of the traditional and other alternative systems - such as using high-yield, low growing varieties of maize, growing bush beans which do not require corn stalks for support, and growing potatoes and broccoli for income - is then presented. Preliminary estimates indicate that the proposed cultivation methods produced a significant increase in farmer income; however, due to political conflict, the evaluation process was not completed.