If the crop has problems such as lack of plants, heterogeneous distribution and emergency unevenness, it will no longer be corrected and, therefore, like other management practices, they will not express their real response potential, compromising crop productivity and income. In short, we cannot go wrong.
What differentiates lowland areas?
Factors such as geographic location of the area, soil types, flat areas, possibility of flooding and the presence of compacted layers in the subsurface of the soil, distinguish lowland areas. There is a need for perfect surface water drainage and also an improvement of the environment for the roots and nodules, to minimize the stress caused by oxygen deficiency or water deficit, reduce risks and make cultivation viable.
Area management and adequacy
Technical monitoring is decisive to identify the best management of the off-season areas, assess in which areas there is a need for decompaction and the methods to be used, the soil profile and balance in the chemical and biological part, complete to have a more resistant plant, better booth and faster establishment of culture.
Thus, before the implementation of the crop, the first concern must be the adequacy of the areas to receive so-called rainfed crops, such as soybeans. Technical macro and micro-drainage projects are essential to have control over the best time to carry out management practices in the areas, and the possibility of irrigation should also be provided for in order to have production safety and to obtain high production ceilings.
Once this stage, which is fundamental and non-negotiable, has been completed and, considering the lowland environment, the main aspects to be observed should be followed in order to have an optimal implementation of the crop.
Planting Implementation
The goal is for the plants to emerge as quickly and uniformly as possible, since sowing is a very sensitive phase to excess soil moisture. It is essential to plan a sowing considering climate forecasts, avoiding sowing when there is a possibility of more intense rains before or during the emergency period, which cause prolonged waterlogging defeated by the death of seeds and plants by soil pathogens. Likewise, stop sowing when there is no more moisture in the soil for germination. Special care must be taken so that there is an even distribution of seeds at the correct depth and an even distribution of seeds in the sowing line. Crops without flaws and with well distributed plants also minimize the presence of dominated plants, which are those that for some reason establish themselves later and, therefore, are at a disadvantage, competitive reduces lower individual production. Weed infestation is favored in areas lacking or less developed plants. In the implementation of the crop, four aspects can be highlighted that largely define a high potential crop:
1. Seed;
2. Seeder;
3. Seeding;
4. Seed protection.
Seed
In a lowland environment, use a seed from the best lot, as the stresses can be higher and more localized when compared to highland environments. Seed vigor, in addition to germination and health, associated with genetic resistance, is very important to overcome stresses and to reach high yields. The objective is for each seed to become a production unit, whose plant must contribute a certain number of grams, planned according to the technological level used.
Seeder
The seeder has a fundamental role related to its seed and fertilizer distribution devices. Therefore, the perfect regulation and constant checking of the regulations regarding the distribution of seeds and fertilizers should be the object of attention of the responsible team. Also be very careful with the mechanisms responsible for providing the seed-soil contact. The purpose is that the seeds immediately and in perfect contact with the soil, and with that all of them quickly absorb the water needed to start the germination process and transform into seedlings, with uniformity of emergence. With this, the permanence time of the seeds is reduced, where the most important to uncontrollable factors are.
Seeding
As for sowing, it is necessary to consider the time, speed and depth. The sowing time is a fundamental factor for high yields, because if it is not carried out at the preferential time for each species and variety, the response of other management practices will be lower than expected. The sowing speed defines the quality of seed deposition in the soil. Seeding “windows” are often small and the “temptation” to increase speed must be contained. Likewise, sowing depth must be constantly monitored, depending on the season, variations in soil and moisture, rainfall, soil cover, among others.
Seed protection
Seed protection, an important aspect to seek more assertiveness in the establishment of the crop. The “embedded genetics” for resistance to the main problems that affect seeds and plants, such as Phytophthora and other soil pathogens, is fundamental to guarantee the plant population and also to reduce crop costs. Seed protection with chemicals complements the process. In this sense, the use of biological products must experience advances and contributions in this area; application technologies (in the furrow or in the seed), efficiency, association between chemical and biological products are topics that are among the research and validation needs in production fields.
Conclusion
It is noteworthy that there are specific cares for each location, which must be identified, integrating drainage, root environment and implantation. And this is another topic that deserves to be highlighted: the team has to be trained and motivated to carry out all the steps accurately. I consider this to be another new frontier for advances in agriculture, as it is the people who will carry out what was planned, at the right time, but which must be done for 100% of the crop, in order to obtain the best results.
