Rains reinforce variability in soybean production potential in RS

The irregularity and poor distribution of rainfall reoccurred in the period between 6 and 12/03, reinforcing the great variability of productive potential within a region and between soybean producing regions in Rio Grande do Sul. According to the Information The situation released by Emater/RS-Ascar this Thursday (16/03), it was possible to observe with greater precision the productivity losses caused by the drought due to the beginning of the harvest and the rapid evolution of crops to the maturation stage, which caused the fall of leaves at the end of the cycle.

The harvest approached 1% of the total cultivated area. The crops are predominantly in the grain filling phase (54%). 20% of the crops are maturing; In some of these, producers apply desiccant herbicides to standardize maturation. Another 23% are in the maturation phase and only 5% are still in germination and vegetative development. For harvest, producers wait for a grace period of approximately ten days to avoid residues in the grains above the tolerated limit. Another objective of desiccation refers to the control of weeds established after the increase in rain recorded at the end of February and which could cause problems in the harvesting operation.

The results from the harvested plots, which are still incipient, indicate productions between 300 and 3.000 kg/ha, confirming a large range in the individual results of the harvest. The soybean cultivated area in the State is 6.513.891 hectares. The revised productivity is 2.175 kg/ha, representing a decrease of 30,52% in the 3.231 kg/ha initially recorded.

Corn productivity was affected by insufficient moisture in the summer months, which culminated in the crops' reproductive period. In cases of greater water restriction, the vegetative phases were affected, making production unfeasible.

The period from 06 to 12/03 was drier than the previous two. As a result of these climatic conditions, some off-season crops have already demonstrated symptoms of moisture restriction.

The harvest continued and reached 68% of the cultivated area, another 11% are in the maturation phase, 12% in grain filling, 6% in flowering and 3% in germination and vegetative development. The corn cultivated area is 810.380 hectares. Productivity was recalculated at 4.440 kg/ha, representing a reduction of 39,49% in relation to the initial projection.

The rice harvest is in its initial phase and covers 19% of the area. Maturing crops total 54%, another 23% are grain filling and only 4% are still flowering.

Productivity is variable, mainly conditioned by the availability of irrigation throughout the crops' production cycle. The cultivated area is estimated at 889.549 hectares. The estimated productivity is 7.744 kg/ha, representing a reduction of 5,86% in the initial projection.

Weather forecast

The next seven days will remain hot and there will be significant rain in RS. On Thursday and Friday (16 and 17/03), the presence of a mass of hot and humid air will maintain a large variation in clouds, with the possibility of isolated showers of rain in most regions. On Saturday (18/03), the movement of a cold front will cause rain across the state.

On Sunday (19/03), the arrival of dry air will remove the cloudiness from most regions, but isolated rains will still occur in the North and Northeast sectors. On Monday and Tuesday (20 and 21/03), hot air will continue to predominate, with firm weather and temperatures above 35°C in most of the State. However, the approach of a new cold front will cause rain showers and thunderstorms in the Western Border and Campanha, with the possibility of isolated thunderstorms. On Wednesday (22/03), the movement of the cold front will cause rain across RS, with a risk of isolated storms, especially in the Northern Half.

The predicted volumes should range between 15 and 30 mm in most regions of RS. In the Uruguay Valley, Missões, Fronteira Oeste, Campanha and Zona Sul, higher totals are expected, which should range between 30 and 50 mm, but could exceed 60 mm in some locations.