Rice producers in RS are betting on soil conditioning for the 20/21 harvest

Rice sowing for the 20/21 harvest in Rio Grande do Sul has already exceeded 85% of the planned area, according to information from the Instituto Sul Riograndense de Arroz (Irga). However, the lack of rain in some regions, such as the center of the state, ended up impacting the availability of water sources and some reservoirs are below the ideal level. However, the lack of rain also allowed the producer to enter the field to plant and prepare the land for the coming months.

To avoid crop losses caused by possible water stress, producer Luis Felipe Felipetto adhered to soil conditioning by applying calcium sulfate in granulated form on 110 hectares of rice farming, in the municipality of São Sepé.

“The technicians explained to me the benefits of calcium sulfate and, after a soil analysis, we saw that some points could be improved. From then on, I discovered the SulfaCal product and it will be the first year of application. With this, I expect better development of the plant, the root system, development of grain quality, as this adds value to the product, and also improves productivity”, highlights the producer.

According to agronomist Marlun Junges, the recommendation focused on neutralizing iron in the soil. “We observed a strong presence of iron in the soil in the soil analysis. We therefore recommend the application of SulfaCal to help neutralize the element, which is harmful to the rice plant”, explains Marlun, who is also a salesman for SulGesso, a mineral fertilizer company from Santa Catarina and a leader in the supply of calcium sulfate in southern Brazil. .

According to experts, no soil can maintain its productivity without receiving some reinforcement of mineral nutrients, mainly the essential calcium and sulfur, the latter in the form of sulfate. An effective alternative, according to technicians, for cultivating these soils is the appropriate use of soil conditioners, such as granulated calcium sulfate, capable of promoting chemical, physical or biological improvement of the soil, which will be significant for the development of crops. like rice. “Calcium sulfate, preferably granulated, is effective in neutralizing sodium and aluminum, enabling an increase in plant mass, a larger and deeper root, better development of the aerial part, resulting in the growth of a healthier plant. ”, says agronomist and soil specialist, Eduardo Silva e Silva.

The main factors to consider when applying granulated calcium sulfate to rice crops are the quantity, time and method of application, as explained by Silva e Silva. “The amount of granulated calcium sulfate to be applied is determined by the characteristics of the soil, through a careful analysis carried out in a laboratory trusted by the producer. The absorption of nutrients, in general, is influenced by several factors. The technicians emphasize that the results may be linked to the quality of the fertilizer, the equilibrium condition of the soil solution, the periods and appropriate doses of fertilizer, which must be recommended by an agronomist”, highlights Eduardo.

SulGesso carries out research that seeks to combat problems of low rice crop productivity, associated with the presence of sodium and iron in the soil, and calcium and sulfur deficiency, important nutrients for rice crops and which are often forgotten in fertilization recommendations. .