INCIDENCIA DE VIZCACHAS (Lagostomus maximus) EN UN CULTIVO DE SOJA

and weighed all the seeds per fruit. The lowest number of plants was found in the sector nearest the burrows. The lowest seed weight per fruit was recorded in the two sectors that were closest to the burrows. The percentage of leaf of soybean in the diet, verified by microhistological analysis of fresh feces, varied among months and among burrows located at different distances from the crop. The highest values were observed between January and March in those individuals that inhabit burrows near the crop (< 50 m). The damage was restricted in area and related to the proximity of the crop to the vizcacha colonies. Therefore, the losses will be related to the size of the cultivated plot and to the size and location of the vizcacha population. In this case, losses represented 3% of the farmer's total income. Comparing the benefits of eradicating this rodent and those of its sustainable use, we conclude that the latter is an interesting alternative for solving conflicts in the management of the populations of vizcachas.