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Global Soil Partnership

RECSOIL implementation in Mexico

Project overview

Phase VI – Year 1 of Implementation and Monitoring

Number of participating farmersProject area (hectares)Annual SOC sequestration potential (tCO2e)
68308133

Region (municipality): Michoacán, Jalisco

Main crops: Agave, lemon and maize

Soil threats addressedSSM practices implemented
  • Soil erosion
  • Soil compaction
  • Soil fertility loss
  • Acidification
  • SOC/soil organic matter loss
  • Soil moisture loss
  • Soil organic cover (e.g. cover cropping and organic mulch)
  • Crop diversification (e.g. crop rotation and intercropping)
  • Organic matter additions (e.g. manure additions, green manure, compost application and residue management)
  • Addition of other living organisms (e.g. bioinoculants, phytohormones, bioremediation and earthworm inoculation)

 

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Number of samples takenSoil indicators analysed
136 samples for laboratory analysis (68 sampling stations)
  • Soil organic carbon
  • Organic matter
  • Total nitrogen (N)
  • Soil respiration
  • Bulk density
  • pH
  • Nitrates
  • Phosphorus (P): Bray-1
  • P: Olsen
  • Cations (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], potassium [K], sodium [Na], aluminium [Al], and hydrogen [H])
  • Cation exchange capacity (CEC)
  • Soil nutrients (P, K, calcium [Ca], Mg, Na, iron [Fe], zinc [Zn], manganese [Mn], copper [Cu], boron [B], sulphur [S], N-NO3)
  • Carbonates

 


Baseline results highlights

Soil testing revealed low hydraulic conductivity in Michoacán (0.88 cm/h in Cuitzeo and 2.8 cm/h in Huandacareo), which suggests that further testing and management for compaction and erosion should be introduced. 

The following training sessions were conducted:

RECSOIL technical training: stratification of the project area, definition of sampling design and density was held virtually in Spanish with 10 participants on 29 March, 31 March and 3 April 2023. Participants were trained on how to collect necessary soil samples and farm activity for data, as well as how to use geospatial data to design a soil sampling strategy.

RECSOIL field training for soil sampling and visual soil analysis was held in person in Spanish with 10 participants, 26–28 April 2023. Participants were trained on how to carry out necessary field evaluations and field sampling techniques for RECSOIL.

RECSOIL farmer field trainings for SSM practice implementation was held in person in Spanish throughout October 2025. All 68 participating farmers were engaged on individual and group bases by CIMMYT and FAO Mexico technicians for technical training on SSM implementation.