Embrapa demonstrates technologies at Expo Londrina

Using a rain simulator, Embrapa Soja will demonstrate in practice, from April 5th to 15th, during Expo Londrina, held at the Ney Braga Exhibition Park, in Londrina (PR), how the sowing system can improve in 20% infiltration rate and water storage in the soil. The theme will be presented at Via Rural (Fazendinha), in partnership with Emater-PR and the Agronomic Institute of Paraná (Iapar).

Furthermore, Embrapa Soja will present soy inoculation technologies and aspects of Integrated Pest Management. At the institutional stand, the highlight will be a methodology for evaluating soil structure and also the benefits of using soy as an important source of protein in food. 

Sowing and water infiltration rate in the soil - To demonstrate how sowing can interfere with the infiltration rate and water storage in the soil, researcher Júlio Franchini, from Embrapa Soja, sowed, in Via Rural, the corn crop in two different systems. In a plot, sowing follows the same direction as the contour lines, called level sowing. The other portion was sown in a transverse direction to the contour lines, popularly known as hill-to-bottom planting. 
Furthermore, to evaluate the infiltration rate in different sowing systems, Embrapa will install a rain simulator, which releases 20 millimeters of water in 10 minutes. Franchini explains that the water that falls on the plots is carried by hoses to a trench opened in the ground, from where the assessments are carried out. “Similar tests carried out by Embrapa reveal that planting downhill has an approximate loss of 20% of liquid, when compared to level cultivation, which is more efficient in retaining and storing water”, he explains. Check out the demonstration of the rain simulator, held on Field Day at Embrapa:

DRES – Another technology that will be demonstrated at Expo Londrina will be the Rapid Soil Structure Diagnosis (DRES), a method of visual assessment of the surface structure of soils, developed by Embrapa, in partnership with the State University of Londrina (UEL). DRES allows the producer to evaluate very quickly and on the farm the soil situation and management practices to improve soil quality.
Embrapa Soja researcher, Henrique Debiasi, says that soil structure is an essential component of fertility, because it influences the physical, chemical and biological behavior of the soil, supporting agricultural productivity. Before the development of DRES, the structure of the surface layers of the soil had been evaluated using quantitative methods that did not characterize it precisely and were difficult to apply and interpret in field conditions. 
“DRES was developed to meet the specificities of monitoring Brazilian soil quality quickly and easily. Our aim is to facilitate diagnosis and improve the criteria for decision-making on the adoption of management practices that improve the structural quality of the soil”, assesses Debiasi. Embrapa Soja developed a thematic page with all information about the technology www.embrapa.br/dres/

Soy in Food - Another topic that will be highlighted will be the use of soy as a food. Due to its high energy and protein value, soy is a source to reduce malnutrition or even a protein option for vegetarians and vegans. According to Embrapa Soja researcher, José Marcos Gontijo Mandarino, soy protein is the best in the vegetable kingdom with the possibility of replacing animal proteins, from a nutritional point of view. “Soy protein contains all the essential amino acids, except only the sulfur amino acids (methionine and cystine)”, comments the researcher.
Furthermore, Mandarino explains that soybean oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and carbohydrates with prebiotic activity (non-digestible nutritional ingredients that benefit the body by selectively stimulating the growth and activity of one or more beneficial bacteria).