Environmental conditions provide more adequate evolution for soybeans in RS

The continuity of environmental conditions since the beginning of March, with rain alternating with periods of firm weather and milder temperatures, provided a more adequate evolution for the soybean crop in stages prior to maturation. According to the Conjunctural Information, produced and released this Thursday (17/03) by the Planning and Communication departments of Emater/RS-Ascar, linked to the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development (Seapdr), crops in recovery present plants with medium size, increased branching, emission of leaves and concentration of pods in formation in the upper third. For crops sown at the end of the recommended period, there was a significant increase in the number of nodes and trefoils on the plants as well as larger leaves, giving the visual appearance of well-developed crops.

Rainfall partially hampered the harvest, which reached 9% of the cultivated area. The operation continued to be carried out in crops that were most affected by the drought, with earlier cultivars. Another 37% are in the maturation phase, 41% in grain filling, 12% in flowering and only 1% is still in germination and vegetative development.

The corn harvest slowly evolved to 68% of the cultivated area. The increase of just 4% was conditioned by the occurrence of rain and greater attention to the operation of other crops, such as soybeans and rice. The estimated productivity remains at 3.428 kg/ha, representing a decrease of 53% of the initially projected. The improvement in environmental conditions during the month of March favored 15% of crops that are in the vegetative stages (2%), in flowering (3%) and in grain filling (10%). The maturing areas remain little affected by precipitation and reach 17%.

Vegetable crops

In the Emater/RS-Ascar de Ijuí region, the development of all vegetable species appears adequate, benefiting from soil moisture and more favorable temperatures. The return of moisture in the soil allowed the resumption of bed preparation, sowing and transplanting of field crops. Tomato cultivation in a protected environment, implemented in mid-January, is showing good progress, and the fruits of the first bunches are already beginning to develop. The incidence of thrips is still high, requiring continued control. The cassava crop is beginning to harvest, even with reduced development due to drought. Roots have a higher fiber content. Regional production is not yet normalized as a result of the low supply of products at fairs.

Fruit crops

In the Santa Rosa region, good rains in the first half of March, the reduction in temperature and good soil moisture favored the orchards. With the good weather conditions of the week, producers carried out pest and disease control and the necessary top dressing. We can already see the change in the appearance of the orchards, which have no wilting leaves. Citrus plants are in fruiting, with a tendency for smaller fruits, but with higher sugar content due to low soil humidity during fruiting. Mango is in the ripening and harvesting period in the region, as are butiá, persimmon and guava.

Pastures

The occurrence of rain, in practically the entire state of RS, made it possible to resume the development of pastures, allowing grazing in several places that were affected by the effect of prolonged drought. In general, forage species are experiencing regrowth, and many producers have taken advantage of soil moisture to apply top dressing and thus enhance plant growth.

Areas with cultivated summer pastures, such as kurumi grass and capiaçu grass, are more resistant to the lack of moisture in the soil, and the occurrence of rain provides a good supply of pasture to the animals. Native fields respond well to rain events, improving the availability of green mass for grazing. Many producers have already started preparing the areas that will receive winter pastures.