Rains relieve corn crops, but losses persist

Corn crops in Rio Grande do Sul show uneven development due to the irregularity of rainfall recorded between the second half of November and December 8. According to the Conjunctural Report released by Emater/RS-Ascar this Thursday (18), the water deficit mainly affected areas cultivated under dryland conditions, impacting crops between pre-flowering and the initial grain filling and reducing the productive potential. According to the survey, recent rainfall contributed to the recovery of soil moisture and favored the resumption of vegetative growth in areas that have not yet reached the reproductive peak. However, Emater/RS-Ascar warns that, in the most compromised crops, "the capacity to reverse the losses already established is limited," since factors such as the number of grains per ear and pollination efficiency have already been defined. In irrigated areas, the impacts of the dry period were mitigated, although high temperatures caused a slight reduction in productive ...