Author
Mariana Edith Marasas
Bio: Mariana Edith Marasas is an academic researcher from National University of La Plata. The author has contributed to research in topics: Agroecology & Urbanization. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 32 publications receiving 231 citations.
Papers
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01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: Agroecology emerges as a new approach and paradigm of agricultural science that aims to provide strategies and criteria for the design, evaluation and management of sustainable agroecosystems.
Abstract: Agroecology emerges as a new approach and paradigm of agricultural science that aims to provide strategies and criteria for the design, evaluation and management of sustainable agroecosystems. It appears in different institutions and organizations, as a reaction to the increasingly obvious consequences of environmentally unsustainable and socially exclusive production model derived from the philosophy of the Green Revolution. Because of its multidisciplinary and pluriepistemological character as scientific approach, as a movement and as a series of strategies and techniques, the incorporation and consolidation of agroecology in Argentina, recognizes different goals, actors and stages. Among the institutions may be mentioned non-governmental organizations, state institutions and universities and other agricultural education institutions as well as farmers organizations. These stages are analyzed and the potentials and limitations for future expansion are discussed.
9 citations
12 Nov 2006
TL;DR: In this article, a metodologia of manejo de suelo in agroecosistemas of la Provincia de La Pampa, Argentina is presented.
Abstract: En los ultimos anos, ha surgido un marcado interes por desarrollar mecanismos para evaluar la sustentabilidad de los sistemas agricolas y del manejo de suelos. El objetivo de este trabajo es desarrollar y probar una metodologia y un conjunto de indicadores, de facil recoleccion e interpretacion, que constituyan una herramienta util para evaluar la sustentabilidad de las practicas de manejo de suelo en agroecosistemas de la Provincia de La Pampa, Argentina. Para su aplicacion se eligieron 2 fincas, como estudios de caso. El uso de los indicadores permitio detectar interesantes diferencias entre los establecimientos elegidos, en lo que se refiere a los objetivos ecologicos, economicos y socioculturales. Los establecimientos evaluados presentaron varios aspectos criticos que sugieren un manejo no sustentable. Aun con sus limitaciones, la metodologia propuesta ha permitido evaluar, de manera holistica, el impacto de las practicas de manejo de suelos sobre la sustentabilidad de los agroecosistemas.
Palabras clave: manejo de suelo, calidad de suelos, agroecosistemas, agroecologia
8 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the relationship of seed conservation practices with the sustainability of family agroecosystems in La Plata's Green Belt (Argentina), where 71.5% of cultivated (traditional and commercial) agrobiodiversity is conserved.
Abstract: Two key components of biocultural diversity are agrobiodiversity and knowledge. There is scarce information regarding seed conservation practices for rural–urban fringe areas, where the Green Revolution model is part of farmers’ rationality. The dynamics of such practice can be observed in La Plata’s Green Belt (Argentina). Conserved seeds and conservation criteria are recorded, in an area where 71.5% of cultivated (traditional and commercial) agrobiodiversity is conserved. With the introduction of commercial seeds, a process appears in which local wisdom comes into play to adapt to external requirements, which leads to the generation of new knowledge. The relation of this practice with the sustainability of family agroecosystems is analyzed.
7 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors quantify three decades of land-use/land-cover change across one of the main horti cation regions of the world. And they find that urbanization and agricultural land expansion are the largest drivers of global land cover change.
Abstract: Urbanization and agricultural land expansion are the largest drivers of global land cover change. Here, we aimed to quantify three decades of land-use/land-cover change across one of the main horti...
6 citations
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the transition process of an agroecosystem is analyzed in relation to the criteria considered, the initial situation, the changes through time and the implemented strategies.
Abstract: Agroecological transition is a complex process in which different scales (farm, local community, territory) are articulated and that is affected by social, economic, technological, cultural, political and ecological factors. To analyze a transition process initially requires understanding how agro-ecosystems function (structure and processes occurring in it) and the different modes of intervention of human beings, who make management decisions to transform an agricultural ecosystem. It is therefore necessary to consider, simultaneously, at least 3 key criteria of the complex reality that the transition process faces: 1. The internal structural characteristics of the agroecosystem undertaking the process; 2. The singularities of the farmer or farmer family who makes decisions and manages the operation of the system; 3. External factors that influence the transition process. By using two concrete examples the transition process was analyzed in relation to the criteria considered, the initial situation, the changes through time and the implemented strategies.
6 citations
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TL;DR: The potential and limitations of conservation agriculture for low productivity, small-scale farming systems in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia is discussed in this article. But, the authors highlight some research priorities for ecosystem services in conservational agriculture.
658 citations
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TL;DR: Five additional avenues that agronomic research could follow to strengthen the ecological intensification of current farming systems are proposed, assuming that progress in plant sciences over the last two decades provides new insight of potential use to agronomists.
433 citations
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01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: In this article, a comparative soil quality evaluation is performed in which the performance of the system is determined in relation to alternatives, and the results show that the effect of a reduction in tillage on the variation in total porosity with depth may be related to differences in traffic on different sites, or on soil quality at the time tillage was reduced or stopped.
Abstract: Conservation agriculture has been proposed as a widely adapted set of management principles that can assure more sustainable agricultural production. Conservation agriculture removes the emphasis from the tillage component alone and addresses a more enhanced concept of the complete agricultural system. Applying conservation agriculture essentially means altering literally generations of traditional farming practices and implement use. Within the framework of agricultural production, high soil quality equates to the ability of the soil to maintain a high productivity without significant soil or environmental degradation. A comparative soil quality evaluation is one in which the performance of the system is determined in relation to alternatives. Inconsistent effects of a reduction in tillage on the variation in total porosity with depth may be related to differences in traffic on different sites, or on soil quality at the time tillage was reduced or stopped.
345 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the impact of various management practices on soil loss in vineyards was evaluated in small vineyards located in southwestern Slovakia in the Vrable viticultural district, using the levelling method.
Abstract: Vineyards represent one of the most erosion-prone types of cultivated land. Because of this, cultivation practices are very important in reducing the soil erosion risk in vineyard regions. The aim of this paper was to assess the impact of various management practices on soil loss in vineyards. Effects of tillage, hoeing, rotavating and grass cover were evaluated in small vineyards located in southwestern Slovakia in the Vrable viticultural district. Erosion and deposition rates were estimated using the levelling method. This method is based on an evaluation of variability of the soil surface against vineyard poles measured between the year of pole insertion and the year of measurement. On the basis of the measured data, a WATEM/SEDEM distributed soil erosion model was calibrated, and the total soil loss from the vineyards under different management conditions was estimated. The model shows rather good performance in modelling soil erosion, but at the same time, it shows lower reliability in modelling soil deposition. Downslope tilled vineyards were the most eroded; the erosion in rotavated vineyards is somewhat reduced. The most protective tillage system is hoeing. Considerably lower soil loss was estimated with the use of vegetation cover between vine rows, which is in accordance with agro-environmental schemes supporting use of grass cover as an erosion prevention measure in vineyards. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
213 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors used an integrative literature review to investigate key areas of environmental concern currently faced by organisations in the global wine industry, including water use and quality, the generation and management of organic and inorganic waste streams, energy use and the production of greenhouse gas emissions, chemical use, land use issues and the impact on ecosystems.
204 citations