The experiment began in 2011 by Ken Sayre and Oscar Banuelos and is located in the experimental station of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) at Tlaltizapán, in the state of Morelos in Mexico. The experiment is designed to evaluate the effects of the tillage and cover crops on maize yields and soil health in the subtropical climate of Morelos state, a region characterized by smallholder maize and sorghum farmers and sugarcane production.

Producer relevance

The experiment represents grain production systems. Most producers in the area would employ the simplest crop rotation (control). The most complex crop rotation represents an aspirational treatment that most farmers in the area would not employ. 

Expected benefits

Experimental treatments were selected to evaluate the effects of tillage on soil degradation and to evaluate if adding a cover crop could restore soil health.

Local stressors

The expected climate change-related stressors in the area are: erratic rainfall.