Characterization of a suburban vegetable producing farm and basic elements to consider for habitat management

Abstract

This work was developed with the objective of providing the farmer with important elements for decision making and the implementation of actions that allow the transformation of the farm to a more sustainable system. The characterization of the agricultural space and the surrounding areas of the suburban farm “Las Piedras” belonging to the province of Havana, Cuba, was carried out. Tools of a Geographic Information System were used such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), aerial photography and thematic maps, among others, establishing as reference the total area of the farm, which included cultivated areas, buildings and adjoining areas. Farm biodiversity was determined using a scale that allowed classification of each biodiversity indicator. At the initial evaluation, the production system was also determined. The farm was classified as "moderately complex" based on the evaluated indicators of functional biodiversity, introduced functional biodiversity, and auxiliary biodiversity, which were well below the values that a highly complex farm can present. In general, the characterization carried out in the farm showed poor aspects such as insufficient use of rotations and crop associations, scarce application of biological controls, inappropriate disposition of the crops favoring the increase and propagation of common phytophagous species, areas deforested, lack of availability of floral resources for the refuge and feeding of natural enemies, and the need to replace fences and posts of living fences. These are aspects that constitute fundamental components of the recommendation for habitat management on the farm.