Browsing by Autor "Juan Carlos Montero Terrazas"

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Making Timber Accessible to Forest Communities: A Study on Locally Adapted, Motor–Manual Forest Management Schemes in the Eastern Lowlands of Bolivia
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2025) Benno Pokorny; Juan Carlos Montero Terrazas; James D. Johnson; Karen Mendoza Ortega; Walter Cano Cardona; Wil de Jong
Forest communities around the world have great difficulties in utilizing the economic potential of their forests, especially timber, under current technical requirements and legal frameworks. The present study examines the feasibility of motor–manual timber management among indigenous Chiquitano communities in Bolivia’s Eastern Lowlands. It evaluates local practices, tests technical optimization options, and assesses their technical, financial, and environmental impacts. Findings reveal that traditional motor–manual timber production is scarcely profitable, exacerbated by burdensome legal frameworks and limited market access. However, motor–manual forest management remains an essential source of income for communities, and it constitutes an important option for rural development. Field tests demonstrate that, with the use of better equipment such as quality chainsaws, and improved maintenance and workflows, productivity and profitability of local logging can be enhanced. Despite a low environmental impact, optimized motor–manual timber management continues to be constrained by governance challenges, logistical limitations, and limited markets for locally produced timber. The study recommends optimizing these aspects, including targeted technical support, market development, simplified legal frameworks, and the setting up of robust local governance structures to replace ineffective centralized command and control approaches. These improvements would enable communities to sustainably use timber from their forests while addressing their socio-economic needs. The findings underscore the potential of logging by local communities as an alternative to large-scale mechanized logging, for Bolivia and in other tropical forest countries.
Soil test correlation of Olsen‐P for corn and soybean in a subtropical humid region
(Wiley, 2025) Nahuel I. Reussi Calvo; Diana Carolina Leiva Cortéz; Cecilia Crespo; Nicolás Wyngaard; Juan Carlos Montero Terrazas; Maria Catarina Paz; R. Trujillo; Adrián A. Correndo; Fernando O. García
Abstract Accurate phosphorus (P) fertilizer recommendations for soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and corn ( Zea mays L.) are crucial for maximizing productivity and economic return while minimizing the environmental impact of fertilizer use. Currently, there are no calibrations for diagnosing P deficiencies in croplands of Bolivia. This study aimed to define and compare the P critical soil test value (CSTV) for corn and soybean using the Olsen method. Twenty fertilization field trials were conducted for corn and 75 for soybean in the Santa Cruz de la Sierra region, including treatments with and without P fertilization. Soil pre‐planting (0–20 cm) organic matter, Olsen P, pH, as well as yield were determined. Relative yield (RY) was estimated as the ratio of grain yield between the control and P‐fertilized treatments. The CSTV was calculated using the arcsine‐logarithm method, with data resampling through bootstrapping. The average yield response to added P was 259 kg ha −1 (+11.0%) for soybean and 545 kg ha −1 (+13.7%) for corn. For soybean, CSTVs were determined as 6.1 and 11.0 mg kg −1 ( r = 0.34, p = 0.002) for 90% and 95% of RY, respectively. For corn, the CSTVs were 8.1 and 13.9 mg kg −1 ( r = 0.34, p = 0.14) for 90% and 95% of RY, respectively. The confidence intervals suggest no differences between crops. The Olsen‐P is a promising tool for soil fertility recommendations in Bolivia. Yet, the modest goodness of fit obtained suggests the need for further research refining the performance of soil test P diagnosis in the region.