Brazilian researchers proposes "a cut in half" of pesticide use on soybean
Date:04-27-2015
A study presented by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company proposes the viability of a reduction of 50% of agrochemicals use on soybean crops with the adoption of Integrated Plague Management (IPM). "During the crop season of 2013-2014, Brazil used nearly 140 million liters of pesticides at a cost of about R$ 2.5 billion for the control of plagues only on soybeans. We could have spent less," justifies the researcher.
The researches were conducted in experimental areas held by Embrapa Soja (the soybean division) and the Emater Institute, in the state of Paraná - second largest producer of the soybean in the country. Both institutions installed nearly 50 reference unities in properties of Northern and Western Paraná to assess the efficiency of integrated plague management.
With sizes from four and 270 hectares, spraying frequency in these areas were reduced from five (the state's average) to 2.6 under Integrated Plague Management. "The results show that it is possible to diminish the use of agrochemicals to control plagues on soybeans," says Emater extension expert Nelson Harger. During 2014/2015 , over 220 reference unities were installed in all soybean regions of Paraná.
"In the areas of integrated management, the investment was reduced in half," highlights Embrapa Soja researcher Osmar Conte. Considering the cost of insecticide use per hectare (R$ 54.10) and the service of spraying (R$ 24.79), the total cost for plague management with the practice of integrated management was R$ 144.57 - over 50% smaller compared to the R$ 302.06 in areas that did conventional management".
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