Root system impacts sugarcane longevity and productivity

Fertiláqua held, in partnership with the IDEA Group, the Webinar Solo Vivo and Produtividade Canavieira. The event was attended by sector experts: Fernando Andreote, professor at Esalq/USP, Saulo Quassi de Castro, agronomist at AgroQuatro-S, Dorotéia Ferreira, manager at Fertiláqua and Dib Nunes, from the IDEA Group.

Topics related to life in the soil and the root system were covered, directly linked to sugarcane productivity, focusing on the relationships between soil microbiology, the root system and the presence of organic matter.

Sugarcane cultivation uses several practices on a daily basis that directly impact soil biology, such as inadequate land preparation, intensification of mechanization, low adoption of crop rotation and increased use of chemical pesticides. . These practices carried out for years have led the crop to a scenario with significant productivity losses, also impacting the longevity of the sugarcane field.

Given this, the sector has been looking for ways to mitigate these problems, improve the absorption of water and nutrients and increase the plant's resistance to adversity, with the aim of increasing the current level of productivity.

According to Andreote, the root system is the answer to all questions. “We are looking more below ground and this has changed the way we understand agriculture. 90% of the problems under the ground we still don't know how to solve. The big challenge is there,” he comments. 

With a deeper root system, the plant has access to a greater quantity of water and nutrients, aiding its growth, and at the time of cutting, the cane becomes less susceptible to uprooting, which will minimize the number of failures in the sugarcane field, making -the most productive, including in subsequent cuts.

In addition to the physical and chemical parts, soil biology has also been a topic of discussion among producers, technical departments of plants and the scientific community. For fertile soil and a balanced environment, these three factors must receive the same care and attention.   

For de Castro, the soil-plant relationship is important in the search for increased productivity. “It all starts with the planting system. It is necessary to reduce the trampling so that the soil “stays alive” in the sugarcane line. The systematization and use of precision agriculture are very important. A well-planted, well-managed and systematized sugarcane field will not be trampled and will be reflected in the harvest. Preserving the sugarcane line keeps the microbiota active,” he explains. 

Doroteia presented Fertiláqua's exclusive line for sugar cane, which includes soil conditioners Longevus Planta, applied in the planting furrow, Longevus Soca, applied in the ratoon, in addition to Energy Cana, a state-of-the-art foliar fertilizer, and the adjuvant Tensor Max. 

Soil conditioners are composed of organic acids, such as fulvic, which have the function of stimulating the production of a deeper root system and volume, in addition to activating the biological part, which will reduce soil compaction, resulting in uniform sprouting. in the sugarcane plant and reducing planting failures.

Studies carried out by the company showed results in which the increase in productivity with Longevus Planta was 19%, on average, while with Longevus Soca, the number was 17%. 

More information about the company's programs on the website: http://fertilaqua.com/.