RS 2024/25 Harvest: irregular rainfall affects productivity

The irregular distribution of rainfall has impacted the productive potential of soybeans in Rio Grande do Sul. Emater/RS points out that regions with lower rainfall volumes, such as the Northwest and Planalto Médio, are facing losses aggravated by an intense heat wave between March 03 and 08. In these areas, the combination of high temperatures and lack of soil moisture caused water and heat stress in crops.

In general, the harvest of soybean is still in its initial phase, with 5% of the area already harvested. Another 33% is maturing, 48% is in grain filling, 12% is flowering and 2% is in germination and vegetative development. Variations in the productive potential of soybeans are large, depending on the amount of rainfall throughout the cycle, the time of sowing and the response of the cultivars.

The rains in February and on March 9 helped to recover crops in some regions, where the soil had its moisture restored. In these locations, an improvement in leaf turgor was observed and physiological damage due to lack of water was stopped.

To ensure the good development of the plants, producers continued to apply foliar fertilizers, in addition to physiological regulators to optimize grain filling in crops planted at the end of 2023.

The soybean cultivation area was reassessed by Emater/RS-Ascar, reducing from 6.811.344 hectares to 6.729.354 hectares, a drop of 1,2%. The average productivity initially projected was corrected from 3.179 kg/ha to 2.240 kg/ha, a reduction of 20,3%. The total estimated production also fell by 17,4%, totaling 15,07 million tons.

No corn, the harvest has advanced to 69%, with another 14% of the crops maturing and 9% in grain filling. Despite the drought, productivity was re-estimated at 6.866 kg/ha, which represents a reduction of 3,5% in relation to the initial projection of 7.116 kg/ha.

Productivity, however, will be 21,6% higher compared to the previous harvest (2023/2024), when productivity was 5.646 kg/ha. The area cultivated with corn also suffered a decrease of 6,9%, going from 748.511 hectares to 696.587 hectares, with an estimated production of 4,78 million tons.

the harvest of rice has advanced to 20% of the planted area. The maturation phase already covers 41% of the crops, while 33% are in grain filling and 6% in flowering.

Average productivity was re-estimated to 8.376 kg/ha, with a small reduction of 0,9% compared to the initial forecast of 8.478 kg/ha. The area actually planted was corrected to 970.194 hectares, according to Emater/RS-Ascar.

No bean, the harvest of the first crop reached 65% of the cultivated area. The remaining crops, located in Campos de Cima da Serra, are in the grain filling and beginning of maturation phase. The estimated productivity is 2.400 kg/ha. For the 2024/2025 harvest, the cultivated area was reassessed to 27.149 hectares, with an average productivity of 1.838 kg/ha.

On the other hand, second bean crop suffered a significant decline, with a 46,5% reduction in the planted area, due to the water deficit and the devaluation of prices. It is estimated that only 11.913 hectares were sown, with an average productivity of 1.527 kg/ha.