Emater Goiás and Embrapa develop research on the use of bioinputs in rice cultivation

Emater Goiás, in collaboration with Embrapa Rice and Beans, is conducting research at the Porangatu Experimental Station in northern Goiás to evaluate the use of bioinputs in rice cultivation. Initial results indicate that the use of bioinputs increases the plant's tolerance to water deficit and contributes to more sustainable and safe agricultural production in Goiás.

The main objective of the research is to validate which rice cultivars perform best when treated with inoculants and grown in soils with the specific characteristics of the northern region. According to Enderson Ferreira, an agricultural engineer and researcher at Embrapa, the location of Porangatu is ideal for studies on water stress due to the lack of rain during the winter harvest and the appropriate temperature for developing the experiments, since rice is a crop sensitive to temperatures below 18 °C.

Ferreira also explains that, historically, northern Goiás was once an important rice production hub, especially when the practice of “taming the land” was used, which consisted of planting rice in recently deforested areas of the cerrado, before the introduction of pastures or other crops.

Sérgio Paulo, director of agricultural research, emphasizes the importance of this type of study for family farmers. According to him, rice is a fundamental food in the Brazilian diet, and this research aims to provide small farmers with the necessary tools to achieve success in their crops. The goal is to test cultivars that are resistant to diseases and water stress, with low input use, thus ensuring greater productivity.

At the Porangatu Experimental Station, three rice cultivars are being evaluated: Douradão, an older variety that is tolerant to water stress; BRS Esmeralda, which is susceptible to water stress; and BRS A502, a modern cultivar recently launched and suitable for cultivation under central pivots. The researchers are using an inoculant called MIX, composed of three types of bacteria that help the growth, development and productivity of rice. One of the bacteria produces indoleacetic acid (IAA), which increases the size, volume and branching of the roots, facilitating the absorption of water and nutrients. The second bacterium promotes the solubilization of phosphorus present in the soil, making it available to the plant. The third bacterium helps the plant to tolerate water deficiency.

The MIX inoculant is being compared with two other commercial products: BiomaPhós, which was developed specifically to solubilize phosphorus, and Auras, which helps plants withstand water shortages.

This is the second joint experiment between Emater Goiás and Embrapa. The first study was carried out in Santo Antônio de Goiás, during the 2023/24 harvest, and the initial results showed that, under water stress conditions, the BRS A502 cultivar, treated with the MIX inoculant and only 50% of the phosphate fertilizer dose, showed superior performance in relation to other inoculants, such as BiomaPhós and Auras.

Enderson Ferreira emphasizes that the results are promising and reinforce rice as a potentially profitable crop for family farmers in northern Goiás, a region generally considered to have poor soil. He states, however, that this perception is mistaken and that, with good management and the application of appropriate technologies, the region can become highly productive.