Results: maize stover use in MexicoThe present section provides an assessment of maize stover usefor each of the three case study regions in Mexico in consecutivesub-sections. Table 3 contrasts the three study regions in terms ofthe main income and crop indicators for the surveyed communities.Table 4 does the same in terms of livestock indicators, whereasTable 5 contrasts stover management.3.1. Maize–livestock systems in (semi-)arid regionsIn the sparsely populated surveyed communities of San LuisPotosi, water availability is a key constraint. The communities arelocated in a (semi-)arid region spanning mid-altitude to highlands(from 1100 to 2100 m above sea level – m.a.s.l.). Average annualrainfall is 445 mm and occurs between May and September. Waterscarcity distinguishes this region from the study regions in theState of Mexico and Chiapas both of which have higher rainfallas well as more irrigation in the State of Mexico. There are alsolarge differences between rich and poor communities in San LuisPotosi. For example, in the relatively affluent community of Cer-ritos, it is common for rich farmers to have 250 ha of land withsophisticated drip irrigation systems. In contrast, in GuadalupeVictoria there are only resource poor farmers and there is noirrigation.