Focusing on the Direct Planting System, VIII RPCS closes registrations on May 6th

Registration for the VIII Paraná Soil Science Meeting (RPCS), one of the most important agricultural events in Paraná, can be made until May 6th on the event website. With the aim of reinforcing the importance of adopting the Direct Planting System for soil and water conservation, the event this year takes place in a hybrid format (in-person and online), from May 16 to 18, 2023, at the University Center Unisep, in Dois Vizinhos (PR).

With the theme “Soil and Water Conservation in PR: advances, setbacks and (re)uses”, the RPCS is already considered one of the most traditional technical-scientific events taking place in the State, bringing together researchers, extensionists, technicians, representatives and businesspeople from the agricultural sector, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students in the areas of Agricultural Sciences.

Promoted by the Paraná Soil Science Center, linked to the Brazilian Soil Science Society (NEPAR-SBCS), this edition of the RPCS is organized by the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Dois Vizinhos in partnership with the Pato Branco Campuses, Francisco Beltrão and Santa Helena, and also institutions such as the Paraná Rural Development Institute (IDR-Paraná), the Federal Institute of Paraná (IFPR-Palmas) and the Centro Universitário de Dois Vizinhos (UNISEP).

This year, the RPCS will bring to the center of the debate the 50 years of the Direct Planting System (SPD) in Paraná, a genuinely Paraná technology, focusing on the issue of soil and water management and conservation, which is based on applying practices that promote the sustainable use of soil and water, planning actions that allow their use over time, but without degrading them.

The president of the Organizing Committee of the VIII RPCS, professor Paulo César Conceição, from the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR) of Dois Vizinhos, highlights that the theme was thought of as a priority to encourage the debate on the 50 years of the SPD, completed in 2022, as well as the challenges and prospects for its future from the researchers’ perspective. “We want to reinforce conservation practices and the adoption of this management system to improve soil and water quality, increasing and stabilizing agricultural income”, says Conceição.

According to him, when it comes to soil and water management, it is necessary to work together with biology, physics and chemistry, in order to keep the soil healthy. “The panels will address these Sciences, as well as talk about rural extension and future soil perspectives for the next 20 years”, explains the professor, adding that the objective is to raise awareness among RPCS participants about the need to expand actions that enhance the adequate use of soil and water resources, aiming to guarantee a sustainable environment for future generations.

The event has a slightly different profile than previous ones. In addition to the lectures and presentation of academic work, at the end of the event, a field day will be held to show and debate the knowledge generated at UTFPR, in stations focused on themes related to SPD and rural extension. Another novelty will be the presentation of the panel “Food Production and Soil and Water Conservation”, an open activity aimed at farmers, cooperatives, unions, which will take place on the first day of the event, at 19 pm, at the UNISEP University Center.

“Traditionally, and even because it is a technical-scientific event, the RPCS has always had a program focused on lectures and submission of work, but this year we want to debate rural extension a little more, promoting this interaction with the research area. This panel, which will be open to the community, will include an analysis of how much and how the natural soil resource has been preserved, maintained or recovered”, emphasizes Paulo César Conceição.

The event will also provide a space for debates, in thematic sessions, destined for the Paraná AgroPesquisa Network, which brings together researchers from public and private institutions, in partnership with the government of Paraná and the FAEP/SENAR-PR System.

The return of erosion in the last decade, one of the main problems in the countryside, led to the formation of the AgroPesquisa Network in 2015, to discuss strategies aimed at farmers in order to try to contain this old problem in Paraná. The Network will highlight activities developed in 5 mesoregions of PR.

Productivity

According to Professor Conceição, the search for high productivity of agricultural crops must be combined with soil conservation, to guarantee sustainable production and, consequently, bring profitability to the producer. “The producer needs to produce with the least possible impact, to have greater productivity and profitability”, he emphasizes.

However, few producers fully apply the fundamentals recommended by conservation agriculture. Currently, according to the professor, only between 10% and 20% of rural producers follow the three pillars that characterize the Direct Planting System, such as minimum soil disturbance, permanent cover and crop rotation.

“Today we have 33 million hectares of agriculture and if we consider that 10% make full use of the SPD, we have around 3 to 4 million hectares worked within what is possible in cutting-edge conservation agriculture”, states the event coordinator , adding that the other 80% to 90% apply only part of the premises of the Direct Planting System.

For the teacher, there is no doubt that SPD increases productivity. He exemplifies by citing great soybean record holders from the CESB Award, who produce between 118 bags/ha and 150 bags/ha, in their test areas. “They produce twice as much as the national average, because they do a well-done direct planting with straw, crop rotation and minimal soil disturbance.”

This means that, if the producer actually carries out conservation agriculture as prescribed and not just part of it, he preserves the soil and will be productive and profitable. “This is a path of no return. In terms of the world, we are moving towards a collective awareness in favor of sustainability in all actions, from packaging to the sparing use of productive resources”, comments the professor.

Erosion

Another aspect pointed out by the professor refers to terracing, an agricultural soil conservation technique that acts to contain surface runoff and the soil erosive process. Over the years, producers abandoned this practice, removing terraces from their properties because they understood that straw alone would be enough to contain erosion.

SPD is considered the most efficient tool for erosion control in annual crop areas. “And quality terracing and mulching are among the conservation practices to avoid erosion. So much so that in its origins, Direct Planting was called Direct Planting in Straw, to emphasize that straw was needed on the soil”, he explains.

Event

In addition to the lectures, the first day of the VIII Paraná Soil Science Meeting features a poster exhibition and a scientific happy hour, the main idea of ​​which is to combine the celebration with the exhibition to exchange information and networking among participants.

On the second day, the general assembly and the announcement of the 25 selected and award-winning works registered at the event are scheduled. In total, 132 works were registered. The organization of the event also opened space for sponsors to place stands in the event area to interact with the Scientific Society.

Service

VII Paraná Soil Science Meeting (RPCS)

Format: hybrid – in-person and online

Order date: 16 to 18 May 2023

Location: Unisep University Center – Dois Vizinhos (PR)

Registration open until the 6th: https://www.even3.com.br/rpcs2023/