Western SC stands out in bean productivity rates

The National Supply Company (Conab) is forecasting a promising bean harvest for the 2024/25 cycle. The estimate is that 3,3 million tons will be harvested throughout Brazil. Santa Catarina, the 8th largest bean producer in the country, should also achieve good results. With 76% of the crop already harvested, the state expanded its planted area by 9,84% compared to the previous 1st harvest, and recorded a 13,16% increase in productivity. Beans are grown throughout the state of Santa Catarina, but three regions stand out in planting and production: Planalto Norte, Planalto Sul and Oeste. 

The Plateaus, especially the cities of São José do Cerrito, Mafra, Lages, and Canoinhas, have the largest cultivated areas. On the other hand, the West stands out in productivity rates, with 2.114 kilos per hectare, surpassing the 2.093 kilos per hectare of the Southern Plateau. The regional manager of Epagri in Xanxerê, Marcelo Henrique Bassani, explains that “the region traditionally allocates a good area for the production of beans, both in the harvest and in the second harvest, with approximately 30 thousand hectares. In the last harvest, the producers obtained excellent productivity, reaching an average of 35 to 40 bags per hectare”. 

One of the main allies of producers in the western region was the climate. Sydney Antonio Frehner Kavalco, a researcher at Epagri/Cepaf and coordinator of the Bean Genetic Improvement Program, believes that this was a summer with very regular rainfall. “Beans are better adapted to a warm climate with regular rainfall. This year we had good rainfall, spaced 10 to 15 days apart. This, combined with the light and heat, made this a very good growing season. With photosynthesis and sunlight, fertility tends to be medium to high,” he says. 

Kavalco notes that compared to the Plateaus, the West is different due to its warm climate. According to him, “in the plateaus we have a lot of problems with high altitude areas, where there is a prevalence of anthracnose and angular leaf spot, especially angular leaf spot, which likes cold. So it multiplies and the producer has to be extra careful with fungicide application.” 

Another factor he highlights for good production is the use of organic fertilization. “Here in the West, we have a lot of pig, poultry and cattle farming, so organic fertilization is widely used. The soil profile has more organic material, more available nitrogen and also more productivity compared to other places where the production chain for these animals is not as strong,” he analyzes.

Marcelo Bassani also highlights the work of farmers. He notes that “through cultural practices, with good quality seeds, including those from Epagri, producers have managed to obtain good results, transforming this into economic gains that help to maintain the crop and encourage planting.”

Among the farmers who dedicated themselves to planting beans in the first harvest in the West of Santa Catarina is Angelita Bortoli. The farmer from Xanxerê says that this was the first time she planted this crop in the summer and that “in terms of productivity, it was an excellent year”. On her property, which covers 1 hectares, 34 bags of beans were harvested per hectare. In addition to beans, Angelita and her family plant corn and soybeans. 

She reports that the results obtained in this harvest and the maintenance of her property were only possible after implementing some changes in management. Eight years ago, after being damaged by a flood, she contacted Epagri. “The first thing we did was measure the infiltration capacity of rainwater into the soil. With this, we were able to understand what had happened, because the result was 33 mm/h, which is a very low rate. In the following harvest, we intensified the use of cover crops, using the mix. Three years later, Epagri measured again and we had already reached 54 mm/h, a rate still low, but which indicated that we were on the right track.” 

Angelita explains that, from then on, she began using biofungicides, bioinsecticides and other products produced on the farm in the biofactory that was built on the property, with the aim of reducing the consumption of chemical products. “Last year we introduced remineralizers. We are very pleased with the results, but there is still a lot to be done towards our goal of sustainable agriculture capable of producing grains with high nutritional content,” says the producer.

Genetic improvement in Epagri bean cultivars

The good results obtained by bean producers can also be attributed to genetic improvement. Epagri is conducting several research projects with the aim of launching more productive and resistant cultivars. The Bean Genetic Improvement Program, based at Epagri/Cepaf in Chapecó, coordinates the research carried out throughout the state of Santa Catarina. A new black bean cultivar, SCS208 Cronos, was recently launched, and its seeds are distributed by Cravil.

Sydney Kavalco emphasizes that it is essential to have a bean breeding program, especially in the South, which is the largest consumer of black beans in Brazil. He notes that “other research companies such as the Paraná Rural Development Institute (Iapagr) and Embrapa also carry out bean breeding, but few focus on black beans.” Another difference in the cultivars developed by Epagri is the inclusion of information regarding resistance to anthracnose by breed. Kavalco explains that the breeding takes into account what happens in the field. “Every year I have the opportunity to select the best ones. If anthracnose occurs, I can separate only those that are tolerant, but the disease must manifest itself in the crop, so I am very dependent on what happens,” he notes.

The researcher reports that the current focus of genetic improvement has been on resistance to diseases, pests, drought, heat, high productivity and adaptability to the entire territory of Santa Catarina. These elements are raised by researchers, but are also reported by rural extension workers and producers, who make suggestions to create a specific profile for the plants. In this sense, Sydney Kavalco states that there has been “a huge evolution, especially when we evaluate older materials, because now, our lines are much more upright. They are starting to get closer to what a soybean crop is, which is a robust but very upright plant. Our selection has been moving towards this type of plant”, he evaluates. This characteristic is important because all material needs to be adapted to mechanized harvesting. For this reason, more upright plants, with a high first bud insertion and a more robust stem better meet this demand. 

Epagri is currently in the final stages of work to launch two new cultivars, one of black beans and the other of carioca beans. The cultivars have already been registered and must go through the trademark protection process. The material will be made available to farmers after a bidding process to define the seed multipliers.