Non-crop resources and the role of indigenous knowledge in semi-arid production of Mexico

In this paper, weed flora associated with small-scale farming in the semi-arid Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (Mexico) was investigated. The objectives were to describe weed floristic diversity, local uses, indigenous knowledge and farmers’ management as well as weed distribution in four different crop production systems along a gradient of agricultural management intensity. In total, 161 weed species belonging to 40 families and 103 genera were found, including three endemic species of the region. Approximately, 91.9% of all weed species had one or more uses, fodder being the most important one, followed by medicinal, edible and ornamental uses. The experience and knowledge of local farmers and the biodiversity of useful weed resources associated with a large variety of local crop production systems, indicated how small-scale tropical agriculture in a developing country may be compatible with in situ conservation of useful non-crop resources.