Taking care of the soil makes fruits and vegetables more tasty and nutritious

Healthy soil is essential for fruit and legume plants, for example, to develop well and present attractive commercial characteristics, such as color, texture and flavor. This is what Marcos Revoredo, PhD in Soil Sciences and technical manager for fruit and coffee at Alltech Crop Science, says. “Health is not just related to stress reduction, but to a soil that provides the necessary conditions for this plant to express its full potential. Therefore, the soil needs to be capable of promoting root development and providing nutrients at all stages of plant growth.”

According to Revoredo, soils that have good water infiltration, corrected acidity, satisfactory levels of nutrients and organic matter amplify the genetic qualities of the crop, making it more thriving. All nutritional elements are fundamental to this development, however, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and copper are directly related to flavor aspects, such as acidity and total soluble solids content (°Brix). “Soils that undergo this care produce results that are more suitable for commercialization, that is, fruits and vegetables with the size classification required by the market, tastier, with good color and, also, more nutritious”, he explains.

Success Case

Valdívia Souza, technical manager of plant nutrition at Agrícola Famosa, the largest exporter of melons and watermelons in Brazil and responsible for 70% of this national production, knows well the importance of meeting commercial criteria and delivering fruits with attractive aspects to the consumer market. “These characteristics are fundamental to the success of those who work with fresh fruit consumption. Our customers, for example, demand fruit with enhanced flavor and beautiful color and texture.”

The location of Agrícola Famosa, in a region between Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará, where sandy terrain and a semi-arid climate predominate, makes it necessary to take great care of the soil. “Cultivation in poor soil, with low organic matter and low fertility, is only viable thanks to the use of biotechnology-based solutions”, explains Valdívia, highlighting that the health of the soil also reflects on the nutritional value of the fruits. “We are concerned with offering a fruit that is not only tasty but also nutritious. Nutritivity is also a quality criterion, and the balance of the soil will favor this aspect, increasing the benefits to the consumer”, she explains.

Revoredo also warns of the damage caused by degraded soil, stating that nutritional deficiencies or imbalances lead to the emergence of diseases, affect plant growth and reduce the productivity and final quality of fruits and vegetables.

Depending on the imbalance, crops cannot even complete their development cycle. “Excellence in the appearance of the fruit or vegetable, such as the brightness and health of the skin, typical color, flavor and nutrition are competitive advantages that are more easily achieved by ensuring a healthy and balanced soil”.

Technological solutions

To help improve soil health and, consequently, the profitability of rural producers, the tip is to invest in solutions that contribute to root development and reduce soil salinization. As is the case with the Alltech Crop Science Soil Line products, which, using organic compounds combined with specific nutrients, interact efficiently in the rhizosphere region, improving the environment. “The biotechnology-based solutions developed by Alltech will improve the availability of nutrients and root absorption, effectively meeting plant needs and favoring their qualitative and quantitative potential”, concludes Revoredo.