Dry weather demands attention in soybean management

The Conjunctural Report released by Emater/RS-Ascar on Thursday (29) indicates that soybean sowing in Rio Grande do Sul has reached 98% of the planned area and is expected to be completed in the coming days, subject to soil moisture replenishment. In terms of development, it is estimated that 42% of the crops are in the vegetative phase, 46% in flowering, and 12% in grain filling. According to the report, recent climatic conditions, with "high thermal amplitude, minimums below 10 °C and maximums close to 40 °C", along with the predominance of dry weather, high solar radiation, and frequent winds, have intensified evaporative demand and soil moisture loss. The recorded rainfall was described as "isolated, irregular, and in low volumes", insufficient to replenish the water storage in the soil profile. The bulletin reports that some crops in flowering and early grain filling, phases of higher water demand, already show "physiological signs of stress in shallower or sandy soils", with ...