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Integrated Pest Management could save R$4 billion per year in Brazil soybean production
Dec. 11, 2018
A study carried out in the south of Mato Grosso do Sul has shown that controlling bedbugs and caterpillars of soybeans following the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) guidelines can increase the producer's profit margin by promoting an economy of just over R$125.00 per hectare. The research also estimated that if the practice was to be adopted in all soybean plantations in Brazil - an area of approximately 33,228,400 hectares - it could generate an economic benefit of around R$4 billion, due to the economy with insecticides and the application of the products.
Entomologist Crébio José Ávila, a researcher at Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste (MS), explained that despite the efficiency of IPM-Soy in reducing the use of insecticides in crops, especially in the last decade, there has been a decline in the pest management programs of soybeans. "In some cases, there was an abandonment of this strategy, which requires a great deal of the producer's presence and attention during the different stages of the plantation, which has caused an excessive increase in the application of insecticides to the plantations, with undesirable consequences from an economic, as well as ecological and environmental point of view," he explained.
According to the scientist, the use of IPM can contribute indirectly to improvements in the quality of life of the population, since the use of clean management strategies such as natural biological control in the agroecosystem reduce the environmental exposure to the chemicals, since fewer products are sprayed annually. The researcher said that the practice contributes to social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Economy of more than R$300 million only in MS
The research carried out the monitoring and integrated management of pests and their natural enemies in the study's fields during two consecutive harvests: in 2014/2015 in the municipality of Caarapó; and in the 2015/2016 crop, in Dourados, both in Mato Grosso do Sul.
In Caarapó, work was conducted in an area of approximately 70 hectares, while in Dourados the area was of 25 hectares. Two comparative areas also served as a reference for the survey, both managed according to the producer's guidelines, without any interference from the IPM team.
The research was supported by the Foundation for Support to the Development of Education, Science and Technology of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul (Fundect), in partnership with the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) of the National Scientific Development Program (DCR), Viviane Santos, currently a professor at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Mato Grosso do Sul (IFMS / Campus Dourados).
Santos explained that the analysis of the cost of insecticide applications for caterpillars and bedbugs control in both pest control environments has shown that in the IPM area conducted in Dourados in the 2015/2016 harvest, there was a saving of R$125,58 per hectare. "In the area under study, if the farmer had followed the IPM guidelines on all 360 hectares of soybean he owned, he would have total savings of about R$45,000. Extrapolating this value of cost reduction for the entire state of Mato Grosso do Sul, which in the 2015/2016 crop had a soybean area of 2,430,000 hectares, the economic benefit would be more than R$300 million, said Santos.
Lower environmental risk
The use of IPM extrapolates the economic results and contributes to the natural biological control in the agroecosystem, as well as reduces the risk of environmental contamination, since fewer products are pulverized in the environment. However, the success of this type of management requires dedication, accompaniment and the presence of the farmer. Its adoption must begin even before the installation of the crop, by means of the monitoring of the group of pests present in the area to be managed for planting.
"Adoption and management should be carried out in accordance with the technical recommendations of the Central American Soybean Research Commission to ensure effective pest control during all stages of the crop," recommended Ávila. "The focus of the IPM is to monitor the base of the sampled pest population present during the cropping stages, observing the levels of action advocated by the research. Therefore, scheduled spraying of insecticides based on calendars should be avoided," said the researcher.
Avila also explained that among the technologies suggested by IPM, simple points were observed, such as the action levels established by the research, especially in relation to caterpillars and bedbugs; effective methods of sampling and monitoring pests and natural enemies; natural and applied biological control in the crop; and the availability of selective chemicals and biologicals to be applied when really needed. He added that IPM-Soy also advocated the cultivation of Bt transgenic plants expressing proteins that affect defoliant insects, such as soybean caterpillars and false moths.
Biological control
"In this study, we observed the presence of several natural enemies, such as spiders, especially in the area where IPM was conducted. They are very important for soybean crops, because they are natural predators that feed on insect pests," explained Santos.
In addition, in the IPM area, in comparison with the producer area, a higher incidence of the fungus Nomuraea rileyi was observed in the beginning of February. "This, also a natural enemy, is a fungus that attacks soybean caterpillars and the false mousse, causing diseases in these defoliation insects. Its presence in the crops is very important, because it helps fight pests," added Ávila.
Experience and dedication
A rural producer of Dourados Maicon, André Zorzo, is the owner of the area where research with IPM was conducted during the 2015/2016 harvest. Son of a farmer and raised in the field, he said that since he was a child, he had already heard about IPM and, therefore, believes that this type of management is a strategy that reduces production costs, contributes to sustainability and allows the use of inputs in a rational way.
"The chemical costs a lot and every time it is possible to avoid its usage, it will be great. In this way, we can preserve the environment and have a lower level of interference. These products, if technically well-positioned and used only when there is a need, do not disrupt nature," he added.
"We producers realize that we have some paradigms that still need to be broken. In my case, I continued to handle it my way, and I noticed that especially with regard to caterpillars, I could have saved a lot of inputs. The frequency and the way the weekly monitoring of crops is done allows the applications to be made only when necessary, not in a preventive way or for the sake of operational convenience," emphasized Zorzo.
He said that participating in the research was a very useful experience, which enriched his knowledge and made possible the correct adoption of IPM in his properties. "At the end of the story, there were fewer applications, lower cost and productivity was identical. I believe that with IPM, it is possible to conduct pest control safely and without harm. However, the method requires dedication and monitoring," he said.
Source: AgroNews
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