Cacahuacintle maize. Determination and characterization of cultivation areas in Mexico

The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of agricultural regions with aptitude to cultivate cacahuacintle maize (Zea mays sp) in Mexico through models based on agro-climatic variables. Through statistical pooling and cluster analysis by production variables and their value, agricultural regions with potential were established: high, medium and low. The potential area was 1 634 137 624 ha, it is located in central Mexico and constitutes the 17 % of the national agricultural area and 28 % of the area sown with corn in 2020. The cacahuacintle represents a value of 1 959 898 561 dollars. Type “C” climates with their different variations were the most frequent and the most recurrent precipitation was 800-1500 mm per year. The most abundant soils were: Vertisol Pelic “VP” (14.45 %) Feozem Haplico “Hh” (13.38 %), Eutric Regosol “Re” (10.36 %), Luvisol (14.05 %): “Lf ” Ferric (8.70 %) and Chromic Luvisol “Lc” (8.7 %) and Humic Andosol “Th” 10.18 % Ocric Andosol, “To” 6.83 %, Molic Andosol, “Tm” 0.97 %, Litosol “lt” 4.64 %, Rendzine “E” (2.51 %), Eutric Cambisol “Be” (3.45 %). It corresponds to 79.85 % of the surface where it could be cultivated. The potential for this crop is in rained regions in the country center. The region one in Michoacán-Jalisco has the greatest potential, but it is strongly recommended to implement policies for the production of cacahuacintle in regions with less aptitude and where the lowest economic income of grain corn was recorded.