THE INTELLIGENT USE OF RAINWATER THROUGH A SOIL CONDITIONING AND CONSERVATION SYSTEM
As we know, water is a source of life, also an essential natural resource for the animals and plants survival. The water present in the soil must be initially absorbed by the roots to fulfill plants vital functions.
In the regions of the "Brazilian Coffee Belt" there are long periods of drought during the winter, severely impacting the development of the culture
The rational use of water in agriculture has become subject of many discussions around the world, with reflexions that bring us in mind: What can we do to ensure high productivity overcoming the lack of water? And how can we optimize the use of water without impacting the environment?
Facing this huge challenge, in Serra da Canastra region, that is home of one of the most biggest Brazilian rivers, São Francisco River, a technology has revolutionized the coffee-growing through an intelligent technique of soil water utilization without the need of complementary irrigation.
It all started 15 years ago in the city of São Roque de Minas, in Minas Gerais State, a region with dry climate, which suffered with lack of water and had soils with low fertility index, where the agronomists and business partners, Alessandro Oliveira and Marco Antônio Menezes, together with researcher José Romero found a simple solution, economic and totally sustainable: “AP Romero System”, also known as "White Irrigation" due to the use of high doses of gypsum applied to the coffee fields.
Together, they decided to do a hardly research about the effects of gypsum overdosing on coffee physiology and its benefits. The researchers were progressing and winning efforts for several institutions of respect, as the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) and Farming Research of Minas Gerais Companie (EPAMIG).
In addition to the great dose of gypsum with the best cost/benefit, it is essential for the operation system using the SYNGENTA protection program that ensures maximum pest and disease control that the planting must be densified with up to 8000 plants/ha, with Brachiaria sp. acting as green cover between the lines and cultural treatments, replacing machinery by animal traction.
Benefits
All these practices combined, offer gains in the soil of:
Maintain or increase fertility levels;
Reduce compacting;
Increase porosity;
Greater amount of organic matter;
Nutrient recycling;
Increase microbiological diversity and activity;
Increase the resistance to erosion;
Expand the water retention capacity.
These benefits guarantee the maximum use of rainwater from a deep root system of the coffee tree, capable of fetching water retained in the soil up to two meters below the surface. For the coffee producer the finantial return came through the average productivity increasead of his fields by up to 18,5 bags/ha, in a historical series of six years
