IDR-Paraná will discuss management of compacted soils at the Rural Show

The diversification of crops using a “mix” of cover crops will be highlighted at the Unit for Biological Soil Scarification, at IDR-PR, at the Rural Show 2024, in Cascavel. The space will showcase technologies that improve the preservation of natural resources and contribute to crop yields. The result is the environmental and economic sustainability of rural properties.

The historic increase in the weight of agricultural machinery, which occurred over the last 50 years, and the intensity of mechanization of production systems have contributed to the spread of soil compaction. They are causes of one of the main processes of degradation of agricultural soils and pose serious soil and water conservation problems.

Crop diversification and control of machine traffic are alternatives to minimize the intensity and magnitude of soil compaction.

During the Rural Show, the team from the Institute of Rural Development of Paraná (IDR-Paraná) will guide technicians and producers on the diversification of production systems aiming at the biological diversity of the root systems of cover crops and “mixes” of cover crops with distinct structures as a strategy to increase total soil organic carbon stocks.

Another method that will be presented is the deposition of cultural residues on the soil surface to intercept raindrops and increase water infiltration into the soil. Process to reduce accelerated water erosion, in addition to minimizing temperature gradients and soil compaction.

In addition to cultural residues, the deposition of carbon and nutrients through the root system of crops and biological scarification with the creation of pores of biological origin – known as biopores – are also important strategies for managing compacted soils and contribute to the increase crop productivity, in addition to promoting environmental protection.

Use of waste

The IDR-Paraná will also show alternatives for replacing mineral fertilizer with animal waste – poultry litter, liquid pig and cattle waste – in grain crops. Visitors will have information about the economic advantages and the correct way of handling and disposing of this material, without causing environmental impacts.

The producer will see, in practice, a comparison of the development of soybean plants that were fertilized only with waste and those that received mineral fertilizer.

Organic fertilization (with waste), combined with direct planting, can be an alternative for reducing costs, and also improving erosion control because it provides the addition of organic matter to the soil, increases the water retention and infiltration capacity in the soil. soil and, consequently, reduces runoff on the surface.

So that the producer can use waste with agronomic criteria, IDR-Paraná presents a methodology that quantifies the volume that must be applied to nourish the plants' needs. This methodology is simple and will be demonstrated in the unit.