Designing a horticultural intervention to improve food security: evaluation of mulching practices using sustainability indicators

摘要

The present project was aimed toward obtaining a model of sustainable gardening practices for a horticultural intervention (HI) in Ahuazotepec, Mexico. Different mulching materials (sand, compost, plastic, and sawdust) were evaluated in terms of sustainability and food and nutrition security using a set of locally relevant multidimensional indicators. A vegetable production field-test was established and monitored during two seasons. The global sustainability of the treatments was in the order of Compost>Plastic>Sand>Sawdust. Compost mulch was an economic, environmental, and socially sustainable option to improve vegetable and nutrient yields, and thus can be recommended for an HI in low-input systems.