Analysis of The Equivalent Land Use (ELU) in the Milpa System Intercalated with Fruit Trees (MIAF) in Axochio, Veracruz

Abstract : The Intercropped Maize and Fruit Tree System (MIAF) represents an agroecological alternative aimed at improving the productivity, sustainability, and resilience of tropical agroecosystems in the face of the limitations of traditional monocultures. In this context, Land Use Equivalent (LUE) is a fundamental indicator for evaluating the productive efficiency of diversified systems. The objective of this research was to evaluate the Land Use Equivalent in the MIAF system established in Axochio, Veracruz, in order to determine its efficiency compared to monocultures. The research was conducted during the years 2024, 2025, and 2026 at the MIAF-INIFAP Module in Axochio, San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz. The evaluated system consisted of 16 species, including fruit trees and annual crops. To determine the LUE, the yields obtained in association within the MIAF system and the national yields for monoculture reported by SIAP and SIACON were used. The results showed high productive diversity, highlighting species such as sapodilla, Persian lime, starfruit, and maize. The total land use efficiency (LUE) obtained was 4.83, a value greater than one, indicating that the integrated agroforestry system (MIAF) uses land more efficiently than monocultures. The largest contributions to the UET came from maize and starfruit. It is concluded that the MIAF system promotes ecological complementarity among species, optimizes resource use, and constitutes a viable strategy for strengthening sustainability and food security in tropical regions.