The São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (APTA), from the Department of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo, will hold the event Great Peanut Meeting: Genetics and Technology for the West of São Paulo, on January 23, 2020, starting at 7:40 am , in Adamantina, in the interior of São Paulo. The event will bring together peanut producers to discuss the cultivation of the grain in straw, the management of pests and diseases of the crop, in addition to presenting the most recent cultivars for producing the grain in an organic system and with a high level of oleic acid, which doubles the product shelf life.
According to APTA researcher, Fernando Nakayama, peanut cultivation has grown in Western São Paulo. “São Paulo is responsible for 90% of national peanut production. Around 90% of it is destined for the foreign market, which shows its quality and the professionalization of the entire production chain. We noticed a strong growth trend for this crop in the West region of São Paulo, so we decided to hold this event to provide more information to producers,” he says.
An interesting feature of production in this region of the State is the cultivation of peanuts not only in areas of pasture and sugarcane renewal, as occurs in other locations. “Because we have more idle land, producers are signing long lease contracts, lasting more than five years, to grow peanuts as their main crop. One more reason for us to share information, as this producer is dedicating himself exclusively to culture”, explains the researcher. The Agronomic Institute (IAC), one of the six research institutes that make up APTA, holds 70% of the genetic materials planted in the country. “APTA, through IAC and its regional units, has been working for many years to develop the chain productive”, says Nakayama.
Peanut cultivation in straw will be one of the topics discussed at the event. Currently, 80% of peanut production in São Paulo is carried out during the sugarcane field renewal period. With the ban on burning to harvest sugarcane and the mechanization of the activity, peanut producers need to adapt to the reality of growing this oilseed on straw, a practice that is already quite common among soybean producers, but little known among peanut producers. .
IAC researcher Denizart Bolonhezi explains that the Institute began research in this area in 1999, when the ban on the use of fire and the use of mechanical sugarcane harvesting was little discussed and did not reach 10% of the harvested area. Today, 100% of São Paulo's sugarcane fields are harvested using machines, a system that leaves at least 15 tons of straw on the soil surface at each harvest. The results generated over the last 20 years allow us to recommend the practice to producers. “Based on all of our research know-how, we are able to guide peanut producers safely. Planting grain in straw is a reality,” he says.
Only the costs of diesel in soil preparation operations, to remove straw from the sugarcane field, increase by R$ 1.000,00 per hectare, the expenses with the implementation of the crop. According to international literature, for the production of 1,0 kg of peanut grains, 5,0 kg of land is lost through erosion.
“This index can reach 13 kg of land per kilo of grains produced under Brazilian conditions. Due to the high risk of erosion when intensive soil preparation is adopted in peanut cultivation, in some regions the plants have presented difficulties for producers in establishing lease contracts”, says the researcher. He points out that peanut producers are predominantly tenants, and in the event that they cannot find land to cultivate in the State of São Paulo, where the entire processing and industrialization park of the production chain is concentrated, they need to look for land in other regions, a fact that increases costs. transport and tax costs.
Bolonhezi's studies show that growing peanuts in straw brings more sustainability to the activity -- as there is no soil erosion -- and reduces production costs, which compensates for a possible loss of 10% in crop productivity during the harvest period. lots of rain. “Our experiments showed that in dry seasons, planting peanuts in straw brings productivity gains. During rainy seasons, there is a small reduction. The drop in operating costs, however, compensates for this loss in productivity,” he says.
Research by the IAC, from the São Paulo Department of Agriculture and Supply, has continued uninterrupted over the last 20 years and has made it possible to test other soil conservation management options, in addition to direct sowing on straw, which still offers resistance to adoption by producers. In the last four harvests, IAC tested equipment that performs reduced tillage in 30 cm strips. This way, the producer can keep more than 70% of the soil covered and does not need to change the seeder. “With these research results, we were able to provide good guidance to farmers. We also scientifically prove some practices, bringing security to those interested in adopting them”, explains Bolonhezi.
The scientific work was developed with resources contributed by the Agrisus Foundation and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). “Together, the resources did not reach R$50 thousand. Just by selling this minimum cultivation equipment, the manufacturing company generated more than R$500 in Goods and Services Circulation Tax (ICMS) for the State of São Paulo. For every real raised for research, there was a return of R$10,00 in fundraising, just from the sale of the equipment, not counting the indirect benefits. It is proof that public research has direct impacts on both the producer, the market and state revenue”, he states.
During the Great Peanut Meeting: Genetics and Technology for the West of São Paulo, producers will be presented with the most recent releases of cultivars developed by IAC. Four strains that are being studied by the Institute and which should be on the market soon will also be shown.
Two of the cultivars are recently released. IAC OL5, launched in 2018, is of the Runner type (creeping plants with light-skinned two-seed pods), the most sought after in both the domestic and foreign markets. This cultivar has the “high oleic” characteristic, that is, a high content of oleic acids, which provides a longer shelf life for the product. In the agronomic aspect, IAC OL5 shows high productive potential, while also being moderately resistant to foliar fungal diseases and viruses.
Another material presented at the event will be IAC Semper Verde, the first peanut cultivar suitable for the organic products market. With red-skinned grains and small to medium sizes, this cultivar stands out for its high resistance to foliar diseases, enabling cultivation without the use of fungicides. “The productivity of IAC Semper Verde can reach 5.000 kilos per hectare without the use of fungicide, a result much higher than that obtained by all red-skinned or light-skinned peanuts (Runners) currently on the market”, explains Ignácio José de Godoy, researcher at IAC. The material was released during Agrishow, in 2019.
According to Godoy, IAC Semper Verde comes as an alternative to producers who intend to take advantage of market niches, such as fresh or processed organic products, such as peanut butter, which is gaining popularity among Brazilian consumers.
Pest and disease management will also be the topic of a lecture at the event organized by APTA in Adamantina. The Agency's researcher, Marcos Doniseti Michelotto, will address pests such as the silver thrips, the red-necked caterpillar and the black stink bug in his lecture. Among the diseases, information will be shared regarding black spot.
During the lecture, Michelotto will guide farmers to identify in the field whether or not they need to apply pesticides and the best time for this to be done. According to the researcher, it is common among producers to apply chemicals on a scheduled basis, that is, based on a pre-established schedule.
“We know that this practice is common, mainly because peanut producers plant crops on rented land, which is why they have more difficulties moving equipment to different areas. However, we want to make you aware that it is possible to reduce the use of products,” he says.
Michelotto explains that to identify whether or not it is necessary to apply insecticides, the producer must divide the property into plots and sample 20 points. At each point it is necessary to choose five plants and on each randomly chosen plant, sample a young leaflet, still closed, open it and count the number of thrips and/or caterpillars. At the end of the evaluation, if 30% of the leaflets contain thrips, insecticides recommended for its control must be applied. In the case of the caterpillar, you must work with 20% of the infested leaflets. If it is below this percentage, he must carry out new monitoring in the next few days. “It is possible to reduce insecticide applications from nine to five by carrying out this procedure”, explains the APTA researcher. Leaflets are those structures that subdivide leaves.
According to Michelotto, APTA also carries out research related to the black stink bug, a soil pest that affects peanut pods 90 days after planting. “We are testing some products, including biological ones, to identify which ones can be used to combat this pest. When the black stink bug feeds on the grains still in the pods, they become stained and unfit for consumption. The pest does not cause any visual symptoms on the plant, so the producer will only know if his area has had a pest attack when his product is sent to the industry”, he says.
Black spot, which is the main disease of the crop, will also be covered in the lecture. The APTA researcher states that the cultivars currently used have different degrees of resistance to this disease and that the interval between fungicide applications can be appropriate according to the cultivar adopted, resulting in greater control effectiveness and even a reduction in spraying.
Order date: January 23,
Open Hours: From 7h40
Location: APTA Alta Paulista Regional Center
Address: Stay 14, km 06, Adamantina/SP
Information: poloaltapaulista@apta.sp.gov.br | 18 3521-4800 | 19 98123-0705 (WhatsApp).
Receive the latest agriculture news by email
Receive the latest agriculture news by email
