Embrapa Arroz e Feijão participates in Agro em Debate da Agrivalle and talks about soil care

Agrivalle, a company in the bioinputs segment in Brazil, featured in the 2nd edition of Agro em Debate, with the presence of important names in the sector, such as phytopathologist and researcher - Murillo Lobo from Embrapa Arroz e Feijão. 

With the purpose of discussing current topics in the agricultural market, its main challenges and opportunities, Agro em Debate was born. An initiative designed and carried out by Agrivalle, which will bring together professionals and companies in the market to hold cycles of lectures and technical debates broadcast live online on the company's official YouTube channel. The events aim to present the best tools, technologies and innovative solutions to help producers produce more and more with better quality. 

In his last edition, Murillo brought up the importance of being aware of some diseases and also talked about how soil health can be crucial and even interfere in this regard. In addition, he covered a little more about the benefits of biological control and root diseases and how the current scenario is evolving.

"When we talk about soil health, we are talking about its quality. We are more used to talking about plant health, but not much about the soil, and therefore, we need to bring it into focus and understand it as an ecosystem that sustains the agricultural activity, animal and human activity over the years", comments Murillo. 

Observing bean cultivation in recent times, one has the impression that the frequent gains in productivity are a great success, achieved without difficulty. The fact is that even with the growing adoption of technologies in this culture such as harvesting mechanization, irrigation, adjustments in soil fertility, launches of new cultivars, several problems persist, and some of them may intensify as plantings become more extensive. intense, or conducted without adequate management. 

"Beans host important diseases caused by viruses, fungi, bacteria and nematodes, and they all have their preferences, in environmental terms. Mild or low temperatures, plus high soil humidity favor dry root rot, mainly caused by Fusarium solani In the center-south of the country, this problem is one of the main problems in culture and is favored by greater climate risks, causing great losses", explains Murillo. 

Problems like this are common and cannot be completely eradicated, but it is possible to take care of the health of the soil and thus avoid such problems. When you see reboleiras on the ground, you also see plants that are withering away. This is an indication of root attack by diseases that generate a weak root system, with necrotic spots generating stunted plants that do not express the genetics and high yield that the plant could have. 

Fusarium can colonize not only the roots, but dead organic matter in the soil, or crop residues and this population can have peaks and maintain fluctuations over time. "When we start to cultivate an area and, if we compare the Direct Planting System with areas with conventional planting and harrowing each year, we observe that in the first three years the systems differ little in terms of the presence of fungi that attack roots. But, from the fourth year, direct planting distances itself and differentiates itself from the others. We have more dead organic matter in the soil, straw on the surface, changes in micro and macro porosity and water conservation, and this influences both the pathogens that attack the crops and their natural enemies that we need to conserve and encourage", advises Murillo. 

With soil cover and cover crops, we can build an agroecosystem that helps preserve beneficial microorganisms. And the use of cover crops allows for many combinations and options for any region of the country. "We know that the worst situation is when we do not have straw formation, as we end up losing beneficial microorganisms, facilitating the spread of diseases. The population of pathogens can be reduced, with partial disinfestation of the soil depending on the choice of cover crops, and that There are greater benefits when this practice is maintained over the years", he explains. For the crop to be successful, it is necessary to have a low population of early-cycle diseases, such as Rhizoctonia, Macrophomina and Fusarium, which need to be low during sowing in the initial stages. 

Not just any cover crop favors common beans. In diseases such as Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli), which manifests itself through flowering and filling of pods, the incidence of the disease is lower when the soil has greater microbiological activity, a higher content of organic matter and potassium in adequate levels, which is of great importance for disease management as a whole. "In this case, microbiological activity will be inversely proportional to the incidence of Fusarium wilt disease and the pathogen population. Therefore, we have been studying more and more about cover crops. This is a basic premise, both for root and also white mold", he advises. 

White mold, unlike Fusarium, remains "dormant" until it has environmental conditions for its resistance structures to germinate. And when these structures (sclerotia) germinate, the spores released into the air infect the flowers, attacking the knife, preventing the pods from filling, which can rot and fall. "The management of cover crops also needs attention. After all, they can also be hosts for pathogens. So it is very important to pay attention when choosing one species or another to form mulch", he explains. 

On the other hand, Murillo comments that cover crops also multiply beneficial microorganisms and can improve soil health. As he mentioned, Bacillus are very important bacteria for controlling fungi and phytonematodes and it is possible to stimulate them by planting oats and also brachiaria. By helping with their proliferation and multiplication in the soil, there is a reduction in the expansion of pathogens that attack the crop. 

"A third option is the application of biological control agents produced on an industrial scale. In this, there is the application of bioagents in the planting furrow, in seed treatment or in application via bar, depending on the target and other issues such as compatibility with inputs chemicals. If well managed, it is possible to improve root protection. It is also important to monitor the evolution of planting systems that tend to intensify even more, and therefore, if we think together about soil health, and propose constant improvements in its physical, chemical and biological part, we can increasingly improve production systems", concludes Murillo.

To watch the debate in full, follow along or find out more about upcoming events, simply access and complete your registration at: http://agroemdebate.agr.br/