Embrapa presents rainfed wheat cultivar at PAD/DF

Considered one of the best alternatives for cultivating rainfed wheat in the Cerrado, the BRS 404 was presented by Embrapa to around 80 producers, technicians and rural consultants this Tuesday (05/07) at the Capão Seco farm, PAD/DF region. The event “Visitação Ensaio Trigo Safrinha 2022” was promoted by Coopa-DF (DF Agricultural Cooperative) with the aim of presenting the options for dry wheat cultivars developed for the region. Three companies participated, one of them being Embrapa.

“The event also sought to show the importance of wheat in the production system as it allows producers to better control weeds, pests and nematodes, in addition to contributing to straw production. Consequently, wheat also ends up being very important for maintaining the high productivity of the soybeans, beans and corn that follow it”, stated the agronomist at Coopa-DF, Claudio Malinski.

Embrapa's technical presentation was made by researcher Jorge Chagas, who presented information related to the BRS 404 cultivar, launched in 2015 for the cerrado region of Central Brazil (Minas Gerais, Goiás and DF). “This cultivar stands out for its early cycle and tolerance to drought and heat, in addition to having a grain of excellent technological quality, being classified as bread wheat,” he stated. In addition to the characteristics of the cultivar, the researcher also presented the agronomic management developed for it. The best sowing time for the region, the ideal density and fertilization management were indicated, with emphasis on nitrogen fertilization.

Researcher Jorge Chagas also emphasized the benefits to the production system of growing safrinha wheat after soybean cultivation. “This succession of crops helps control weeds through the rotation of active herbicide ingredients, control of ‘RR’ tiguera plants and suppression through cultivation and straw. It also helps to break the cycle of pests and diseases, especially soil fungi”, explained the expert.

According to him, the inclusion of wheat in the system also opens up opportunities for the cultivation of medium and late cycle soybeans, as this cultivar is recommended for cultivation in the second half of March in this region. “Soybeans from medium and late cycles tend to be more productive than soybeans from early and super early cycles. This way, the producer can earn money on soybeans and then on wheat, achieving good profitability, even in dry years like this one,” he stated. According to the researcher, the BRS 404 cultivar is another tool available to producers, bringing several benefits to the soy/wheat system in the region, and is a good opportunity for crop diversification, reducing risks.