No-till system in cassava crops is more sustainable and profitable

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Research shows that no-tillage, carried out on the straw from the previous crop, is able to increase cassava productivity by up to 50%, in addition to raising the quality of the soil. Also called no-till or low-till, the no-till system (SPD) is used in large grain crops, such as corn, soybeans and wheat.

In the Center-South of Brazil, a region of great importance in the Brazilian production of cassava and which concentrates 80% of the Brazilian starch producing industries, the SPD has been successfully tested in the culture. Known for its versatility and rusticity, cassava also has the characteristic of quickly depleting the soil when not well managed, so the SPD was tested as an alternative to solve the problem.

The work was developed by teams from Embrapa, the State University of Western Paraná (Unioeste) and the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina (Epagri), who observed that the adoption of conservationist production systems could bring several benefits to the entire production chain, from the reduction of about 90% of soil losses, reduction of the costs of preparing the area to the improvement of soil quality and productivity.

Among the results achieved, a variety suitable for no-tillage was launched, BRS CS01, which is booming in the region, and another cultivar is about to be introduced on the market.

No-tillage with cassava

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Basically, no-tillage is a system that involves not turning the soil, as in the conventional system. That is, the implantation of the crop is carried out directly on a dried straw. "By not revolving the soil, there is greater preservation of organic matter, the risk of erosion is reduced, there are lower costs and the crop is in a better environment, with milder temperature and greater maintenance of humidity", explains researcher Marco Rangel, located in the advanced field of Embrapa Cassava and Fruit at Embrapa Soja, in Londrina (PR). The scientist stresses that these advantages have the potential to add value to processed products, since consumers are increasingly demanding in relation to the sustainability of the environment.

The challenge of adaptation

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The idea of ​​adapting the SPD to the crop arose because most of the cassava in the Center-South is planted on a sandstone soil, very susceptible to erosion. "What is commonly done here is to 'tip over' the pasture and carry out various soil preparation operations, so that it is much more subject to erosion, which we cannot accept anymore. Cassava entered the region to promote the reform of the pasture ", highlights Rangel.

The soil called Arenito do Oeste is even more susceptible to erosion because of the lack of structure and common rain in the region, points out agronomist-engineer Emerson Fey, professor at Unioeste on the campus of Marechal Cândido Rondon and research partner at Embrapa in South Center. "The great advantage of no-till is the protection of the soil. The impact of the raindrop is less and water is not lost", he explains.

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Pioneer study

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Experienced in the system of direct planting for soybeans and corn, Fey innovated when presenting, in 2010, his doctoral thesis at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) on the theme "Improvement of a furrow mechanism for direct planting of cassava", in which developed a furrow rod with a small number of components, with a simple, low-cost and well-functioning manufacturing process. "The productivity obtained with the cultivation of cassava in conventional preparation and in the No-Till System was similar, showing that this technique can be used for cultivation without compromising productivity and even improving sustainability", says the agronomist.
According to Rangel, in regions where there is annual crop rotation, it was easier to adapt direct planting. "This happened because there was already a previous preparation of the soil. However, in the pasture regions, with the soil already depleted, we had to adjust the system so that the cassava would produce in the same way as in the conventional one. With the partners, we developed the varieties and a planting machine and we arrived at a set of factors that made the use of direct planting possible ", informs the researcher at Embrapa.

In conservationist preparations, at least 30% of the soil is kept covered with straw after planting using equipment such as scarifiers or subsoilers that break the soil without reversing the layers, as is the case with moldboard, disc and harrow plows.

"Normally, the producer already uses the specific planter for cassava, which deposits the seedlings in the planting furrow in conditions suitable for the sprouting and development of the plants. With some adaptations in this planter, with the furrow and the disc to cut the straw, direct planting is already feasible. Depending on the scale, the producer can also do it manually ", assures the researcher.

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No-tillage care and adaptations

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Depending on the type of straw, the region and the climate, some adjustments are made. "Logically, it takes a certain amount of time to gain stability, check the dynamics of nutrients, the response of the roots etc. Productivity will not increase in the first year and the producer must be aware that adaptations may be necessary. of brachiaria in the planting line, for example, can hinder the start of production. The solution would then be to remove some of that straw ", he details.

In areas where crop rotation is already done, straw from any crop can be used: corn, soybeans, black oats or wheat. "The development of no-tillage on pastures, which is also quite extensive in the northwest region of Paraná, is practically concluded," says Rangel. The appropriation of the SPD in the Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration (ILPF) is considered a good opportunity by the researcher.

The scientist warns of some prior care before joining the SPD. "The producer has to be prepared to face this different environment, especially in relation to the soil. The physical and chemical parts of this soil must be well-suited", recommends Rangel, warning about the importance of using an adapted planter and of suitable varieties, a since not all of them adapt well to no-till. "Embrapa's cassava breeding program works hard to identify genotypes that have superior behavior and, at the same time, are stable within this system." We believe that this system can bring benefits to the entire cassava culture ", the scientist bets.

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Conditions and locations

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In the Center-South of the country, the cultivation of cassava under no-tillage can be carried out from mid-May to the end of August in places where the average temperature is highest, and from August until October, when it is lowest. Regarding the thermal stability of the soil, experiments demonstrated that, with the SPD, the average regulation of cold goes from 17.6o C to 18.3o C and hot, from 38.5o C to 30.3o C, considered quite positive for cassava as it reduces the

thermal amplitude.

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What the producers say

Sigmar Herpich, of the Technical Association of Cassava Industries (Atimop), is one of the system's enthusiasts. "We already have no-till for other main crops here in our region, like soybeans and corn. On the safrinha corn straw, mainly, oats or wheat, no-till cassava is planted, which has several advantages over the conventional one, especially in soil conservation. The BRS CS01 variety proved to be very effective in this planting system. This is very rewarding for farmers and, consequently, for us who represent the industry ", he stresses.

Victor Vendramin, from Paranavaí (PR), has been one of the research partner producers since 2016. "The first difference, seen immediately, is the conservation of moisture by the straw cover. We are developing this direct planting in pasture straw, in the In this case, Brachiaria brizantha, basically with the soil of conventional tillage, in which the land is turned over ", he explains.

According to the producer, in the conventional system, even if the rain happens after having touched the soil, the humidity lasts for about seven days on average, being suitable for planting for five to seven days. In no-till, with straw cover, this humidity lasts 20 to 30 days. Therefore, there is an increase of at least three times in the time to carry out the planting.

In addition to increasing the planting window, Vendramin highlights the conservation of carbon in the soil. "Avoiding revolving the soil, you have conservation of carbon, which is very difficult to build, and the aggregation of soil particles, because in sandy soil it is very difficult to have this improvement. No-till makes the soil softer, more aggregated and with higher content of organic matter ", he reports.

The producer says that there was no decrease in productivity with the adoption of the system and that he expects this improvement with the use of Embrapa varieties. "I believe that, when these varieties have sufficient quantity of plants for commercial scale, the concern in relation to productivity will be solved", he stresses.

When he stopped investing in more soil preparation operations, the producer noticed a reduction in costs, which should be reflected in a higher profit. "The cost of diesel oil, machines and the operator decreased, as well as the depreciation and maintenance of equipment. If you have your own equipment, the savings are R $ 1,752.20 / bushel, but if the service is outsourced, the value is in R $ 2.350,00 / bushel ", he informs.

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Léa Cunha (MTb 1633 / BA)
Embrapa Cassava and Fruit
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Phone: (75) 3312-8076

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