Obtaining high productivity in agricultural systems

High yields can be considered those obtained on the farm that are superior to those achieved in the region, considering the similarities, especially the climatic conditions.

There is no basic rule for obtaining high yields or a single component that is effective in this regard. However, to understand how to obtain high yields, it is necessary to look at the production system as a whole, in a holistic and integrated way. In this context, soil plays a fundamental role, as it is one of the components in which adequate planning involves building soil fertility and adequate soil management.

The planning of each field or plot, observing the management zones, is essential to seek greater homogeneity within the fields or plots. It is an easy-to-implement tool with considerable returns, and can be easily started by separating areas with high and low yields, different soils, places with greater water retention in the soil, among others.

The history of use and management of the quantities of fertilizers applied, as well as the form of application, since the introduction of the area to the production system, are key components for monitoring and monitoring the performance of the production system. The sizing of machines – in which, in addition to the area to be planted, soil conditions with ideal humidity for planting, the type of vegetation cover and management prior to planting must be considered – contributes to ensuring that plant establishment is not harmed .

Adjusting and cleaning the seeders, in a timely manner, for uniform distribution of seeds, since the spacing between plants in the field has a negative effect on yield due to competition for water, light and nutrients, are also important. Adequate maintenance of fertilizer spreaders to ensure uniform distribution, reducing the spatial variability of nutrient distribution on the land, is another point to pay attention to. The use of well-sized and properly maintained cutting discs allows straw cutting to be effective, increasing planting quality.

Considering that grain agricultural systems predominate in the Cerrado do Matopiba region, the Direct Planting System (SPD) plays a fundamental role as a tool for, firstly, soil and water conservation, as well as a system that aims to provide sustainability to production of grains. Soil management must provide sufficient vegetation cover so that rainwater falls on the soil, does not cause disintegration, infiltrates continuously and the soil still has the capacity to retain it for a considerable time. The SPD must primarily promote the minimum soil disturbance, limited to the planting line, the high annual input of residue, the shortest interval between planting and harvesting, crop rotation, seeking to have plants in the system growing all year round .

The implementation of intensive systems, such as SPD, improves the physical, chemical and biological attributes of the soil, contributing to increased efficiency in key processes. In general, in areas with high yields the following characteristics are observed: (i) high levels of organic matter; (ii) high water retention capacity available in the soil; (iii) soils and management systems that do not negatively affect initial plant establishment; (iv) soils that, even in summer seasons through management, have adequate water content throughout the harvest; (v) soils that have adequate nutrient levels; (vi) environments where solar radiation is high during the harvest; (vii) environments where the night temperature is mild.