The Plantae probes reach agriculture in Brazil, to control soil moisture, salinity, temperature and relative humidity. All with the aim of achieving better quality and more crop quantity, while saving water and energy.
Agriculture regions in Brazil
The agriculture of Brazil depends on the zones, given its extension. It is the fifth largest country in the world with highly variable regions:
- South: Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul with mountainous areas and wide plains with a temperate climate. Its crops are: soy, corn and wheat.
- Southeast: Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the most populated area in Brazil and with crops of cereals, soybeans and citrus fruits.
- Northeast: Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe. It mainly grows sugar cane.
- Center-West: Mato Grosso, Mato, Grosso do Sul, Goias and the Federal District with low population density. The crops are basicallysugar cane, soybeans and cotton
- North: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins. Depopulated tropical forest. The Amazon is the largest tropical rainforest in the world.
One of the crops that is increasing is transgenic soybeans, being the second largest producer in the world after the US.
Sugarcane
It is the main producer of sugar cane. Also citrus and mainly oranges. We have already dedicated articles to the cultivation of oranges and their irrigation with sensors, therefore we focus in this article on sugar cane.
Sugar cane is from the group of grasses belonging to herbaceous plants.
- It has a wide and branched root and a stem that can reach between 2 and 5 meters in height.
- The stem is thick and the sugar is mainly stored in the nodes. It is the true wealth of the plant, the abundant sucrose.
- In addition, its fermented and distilled leaves are used to make rum.
- The remains of the plant are very good for compost. Sometimes with the simple tillage of the land where it has been collected.
Control of sugarcane with sensors
The control of sugarcane with sensors is highly beneficial, given the soil conditions it requires.
- Humidity control with probes to adapt irrigation to its different phases of growth and production. Ponds are not suitable for it at any stage, but controlled humidity is, and it is necessary to suspend irrigation before harvesting so that the accumulation of sugar increases. The sensor indicates the degree of humidity in real time.
- Conductivity probe to control the accumulation of salts produced by evaporation, high at high temperatures. The greater the humidity control, the less evaporation.
- Soil temperature sensor to assess the health of the root system and check whether the absorption of nutrients is adequate. Also observe the existence of diseases in the roots.
- Ambient temperature probe that warns us of possible sudden changes and the risk of frost. Sugar cane requires temperate climates and high temperatures to germinate.
- Also a relative humidity sensor that assesses whether it is the correct one and the plant needs for its development. In case of dryness of the environment, sprayers can be used.
- It must also have a good number of hours of sun so that the accumulation of sugar is ideal. We can measure them with the Meteo station.
Sensors in agriculture in Brazil
Soybean is another of the main agricultural crops in Brazil. The second world producer after the USA. It is a product similar to peas and can be consumed in different ways:
- Green: to consume as a vegetable, cooked and raw in salads.
- Yellow to make milk or flour and consume in different ways.
- Black that is also used to make milk, oil and other applications. An important application is obtaining isoflavones used as medicine.
We visited a soybean plantation in Alfenas in the Minas Gerais area in a circular economy that combines raising and caring for livestock with agriculture. It also prepares and markets nutrition for all types of animals.
It is recognized as the best agro-industrial company for the quality, efficiency and innovation of its products and services, promoting the economic, social and environmental development of the region where it operates.
Created in 2004, it opens in 2021, the Passos Unit that was born with the purpose of bringing solutions that serve the select market of cattle farmers in this important dairy basin of Minas Gerais.
Today, Nutrimax is recognized as a specialist in quality nutrition for dairy cattle in the south and southwest of Minas.
Nutrimax products contain mycotoxin absorbers and chelated organic minerals for better absorption of the product by animals, in addition to having a wide mix of biocomplexes (prebiotics, probiotics and biotin) for animal welfare.
Nutrimax
Soybean cultivation controlled by probes
- Puddles are not suitable for it at any stage, but controlled humidity is, or the roots will suffocate. Lack of water influences germination and the result is poor production. In addition, we avoid the formation of fungi.
- Control of the accumulation of salts that are produced by the high evaporation of temperatures. The plant does not absorb the nutrients it needs and its production decreases.
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