Research points to a large contribution of bioinputs and silicon in highland rice

The experiments in a greenhouse, conducted by the technical team at Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, showed that the adoption of bioinputs and silicon results in a reduction of between 50% and 55% in the loss of productivity of upland rice, when exposed to low availability of water and the low phosphorus content in the soil. Under these adverse conditions, bioinputs or multifunctional microorganisms act by promoting plant hydration and phosphorus solubilization, while silicon provides greater tolerance to abiotic stresses (lack of rain and adverse temperature), reduces the absorption of toxic elements and increases the availability of nutrients.

Embrapa is one of two institutions in the world that study Terras Altas rice (the other is AfricaRice, in Africa). Therefore, it depends, almost exclusively, on its own assets and advances in knowledge to overcome challenges and transform them into opportunities. The Brazilian Cerrado experiences constant and long droughts; increasing maximum temperatures, due to climate change; and phosphorus limitation, the main factor that characterizes the low fertility of soils in this Biome.

Faced with such an adverse scenario, this work is innovative, allowing us to glimpse a promising future for producers who are turning their eyes to this system, which, compared to irrigated rice, has good advantages, such as a reduction of around 51% in use of water, lower emission of methane gas into the atmosphere (80 – 85%) and reduction in land preparation and labor costs.

The data from this research released here, still preliminary, indicate that the resilience of upland rice is linked to an environmentally friendly and economically viable technological package for producers. To date, the work has been carried out in a greenhouse. In summer 2021/22 and winter 2022, they will be installed in an experimental field to validate the results, in the Municipality of Porangatu, Goiás.

The technical team responsible for the work is made up of researchers Marta Cristina Corsi de Filippi, Adriano Pereira de Castro, Maria da Conceição Santana Carvalho, Adriano Stephan Nascente, Marcia Thaís de Melo Carvalho and Carlos Magri, from Embrapa Arroz e Feijão; and Moemy Gomes de Moraes, from UFG, under the coordination of researcher Anna Cristina Lanna.

Success of the Highland Rice System 

Rice grown in highlands, in Brazil, is produced in several regions within the Cerrado Biome, playing a social and economic role of great importance. In the last decade, due to competition with soybeans, cotton and corn, the crop showed a reduction of around 60% in area and 50% in production. In addition to the presence of these commodities, some problems faced in the production environment, such as water and nutritional deficiency, also contributed to this decrease.

Given this situation, researchers from Embrapa Arroz e Feijão have been working in search of solutions to these and other issues related to Terras Altas rice. The results are strengthening the culture and, in the last three years, the System has gained strength among producers and the grains are conquering the Industry, which is already bringing the product harvested in the Cerrado to the Brazilian table. This positive moment is the result of a lot of research work by Embrapa which, in almost 50 years of studies, transformed this and all other cultures in the country.