Vulnerability of Rainfed Maize (Zea mays L.) to Climate Variability in the Municipalities of Atltzayanca and Huamantla, State of Tlaxcala

Authors

  • Jorge Luis Carmona-Martínez El Colegio de Tlaxcala A.C https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3860-9761
  • Andrés María-Ramírez Researcher
  • Maricela Hernández-Vázquez Investigador

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28940/terralatinoamericana.v43i.2351

Keywords:

agrochemicals, climate change, pests, local producers

Abstract

Rainfed agriculture faces recurring threats that af fect its productivity year af ter year. Soil moisture and temperature are essential factors for the proper germination, growth, and development of maize. Climatic events such as droughts and frosts, resulting from climate variability, represent the main risks, as they cause direct damage, increase the vulnerability of the agricultural system, and significantly af fect production and, consequently, the economic stability of local producers. The state of Tlaxcala has three rainfed maize-producing regions, with the Oriente Huamantla region being the most important. This region comprises 13 municipalities, among which  Atltzayanca  and  Huamantla  stand  out  due  to  their  higher  production levels. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the degree of vulnerability of rainfed maize cultivation to extreme climatic events in the municipalities of Atltzayanca and Huamantla. A mixed methodology was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. Precipitation and minimum temperature variables for the period 1980–2021 were analyzed together with rainfed maize yield data by calculating means and standard deviations in order to establish correlations and determine the degree of vulnerability. Additionally, 182 questionnaires were administered, and group interviews were conducted in the selected municipalities. The results identified dif ferent degrees of vulnerability, with Huamantla being vulnerable to drought, exhibiting a 20% probability of obtaining low yields under this climatic event, as well as other relevant factors that also af fect crop performance, such as pest incidence and the use of agrochemicals. These findings highlight the need for future research adopting a holistic approach that integrates additional risk factors, including soil conditions, economic context, farmer training, seed type, and the increasing deterritorialization associated with agribusiness. 

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Author Biographies

Andrés María-Ramírez, Researcher

Andrés María Ramírez holds a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy with a specialization in Phytotechnics from the University of Guadalajara. He obtained both his Master's and Doctoral degrees in Soil Science (Soil Fertility) from the Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo Campus, Mexico. He worked for 28 years as an agricultural researcher at the National Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock Research (INIFAP). Since 2013, he has been a full-time research professor at El Colegio de Tlaxcala A.C., where his research lines include traditional agriculture (maize, backyard systems), environment and sustainability, ethics and bioethics, complex problems, interdisciplinarity, and transdisciplinarity.

He is a member of several research networks: the CONACYT Network on Ethnoecology and Biocultural Heritage; the National Research Network on Forest Environmental Services and Climate Change; and the South American Mycorrhizal Research Network. He is a Level I member of the Mexican National System of Researchers (SNI) and represents El Colegio de Tlaxcala in the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR).

Maricela Hernández-Vázquez, Investigador

She holds a Ph.D. in Regional Development from El Colegio de Tlaxcala A.C. She is a professor and researcher in the Environmental Sciences undergraduate program at the Faculty of Agrobiology, and a core faculty member of the Master's Program in Environmental Systems Science at the Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala. She is a member of the academic research group Agroecosystems and Society and leads the research line on Climate Change and Agriculture.

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Published

29-12-2025

How to Cite

Carmona-Martínez, J. L., María-Ramírez, A., & Hernández-Vázquez, M. (2025). Vulnerability of Rainfed Maize (Zea mays L.) to Climate Variability in the Municipalities of Atltzayanca and Huamantla, State of Tlaxcala. REVISTA TERRA LATINOAMERICANA, 43. https://doi.org/10.28940/terralatinoamericana.v43i.2351

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