Sistemas produtivos e seus impactos na qualidade física do solo e produtividade das culturas na região Oeste do Paraná

Abstract

The state of Paraná has established itself as a major power in Brazilian and global agriculture, especially with regard to grain production. The substantial increase is the result of the growth in cultivated area, together with improvements in production efficiency and intensification of production systems. However, the continuous practice of second-crop corn and soybean succession has led to a series of challenges, such as loss of soil quality and productivity below the genetic potential of the available varieties and hybrids. The experiment was developed over three years (2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23) at the Agricultural Research Center of the Consolata Agroindustrial Cooperative (CPA Copacol), in the municipality of Cafelândia - PR, western region of the state of Paraná. The objective of this study was to study how soil reacts to different approaches, performing the Rapid Soil Structure Diagnosis (DRES) and verifying the Stable Infiltration Rate (TIE), in addition to evaluating the technical feasibility of introducing a 3rd grain harvest based on the average crop productivity and presenting the benefits of diversifying production systems, especially in the 2nd corn/soybean succession in the western region of Paraná. The experimental design was randomized blocks (RBD), with 5 production systems, identified as S1 (2nd corn/soybean), S2 (2nd corn/3rd wheat/soybean), S3 (Corn + brachiaria ruziziensis/soybean), S4 (Wheat/soybean) and S5 (Black oats/soybean). Each experimental plot was 5 m wide by 24 m long, totaling 120 m2. Regarding the SQIs (Soil Structural Quality Index), it was concluded that the structural quality of the studied soil improved with the diversification of cropping systems, especially the corn/soybean system. In addition, the TIE showed significant improvements after three years of study in the alternative systems. In the sum of productivity, all treatments surpassed the traditional system (S1) adopted by the region. It was also found that the cultivation of wheat in the 3rd harvest did not interfere with the productivity of the main crops (corn and soybean). The results highlight the technical feasibility of using the window between the harvest of the 2nd corn harvest and the planting of soybeans for the cultivation of winter cereals, such as wheat and black oats, aiming at a 3rd grain harvest or for soil cover. This study shows that diversification in production systems brings advantages, such as increased productivity of soybeans and corn compared to the succession system commonly adopted in the region.