A Demographic Study of Maguey Verde (Agave salmiana ssp. Crassispina) Under Conditions of Intense Utilization

• Main Authors: Martinez-Morales, Rafael, Meyer, Susan E.
• Other Authors: Centro Regional para Estudios de Zonas Acidas y Semiaridas del Colegio de Postgraduasos Salinas de Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, México
• Language: en_US
• Published: University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) 1985
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/554209

In western San Luis Potosi, Mexico, wild populations of Maguey Verde (Agave Salmiana Otto ex Salm-Dyck ssp. crassispina (Trel.) Gentry) are intensively utilized, especially as raw material for production of the distilled liquor mezcal. A demographic approach was used to investigate possible explanations for recent population decline. The effect of overgrazing on the survival of young plants (offsets) was found to be a major problem. Harvest of sexually mature plants for mezcal aggravates the problem by leaving both soil and offsets exposed. But, in itself, this harvest seems to constitute a reasonable long-term use for wild populations, even though seed production is halted.