Description and agroecological management proposal of the Babahoyo River sub-basin, Ecuador

Abstract

The Babahoyo River sub-basin is part of the Guayas River basin hydrography, as the Babahoyo River, and the Daule River, are the two tributaries forming the great Guayas River. This sub-basin covers the eastern part of Los Ríos province, in an area of 2,940.18 km2, representing 41.90% of the total area of the Babahoyo River sub-basin.

The weather in the Babahoyo River sub-basin is characterized by an annual average temperature of 25.5° C, with 83% of relative humidity, 1,050 hours of sunshine, 1.3 m/s wind speed, and 2,200 millimetres of rain precipitation. Agriculture is the main economic activity and production source of the Babahoyo River sub-basin. Single-use soils occupy 37% of the surface, while coverings and associated uses correspond to 47%; other types of coverings such as populated settlements, natural and intervened forests, transitory crops, bodies of water, among others occupy 16% of the area. The proposal considers, among other things, the promotion of intensive environmental education, proper livestock management, water quality, biological, and genetic diversity conservation; as well as the replacement of conventional agriculture by sustainable agriculture that involves agroecological practices in crop systems. This study aimed to characterize and propose the agroecological management of the Babahoyo River sub-basin.