Potential area and limitations for the expansion of rainfed wheat in the Cerrado biome of Central Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this work was to locate and quantify, through geotechnologies, areas that are currently used for annual agriculture in the Cerrado biome of Central Brazil, located within the boundaries defined by the homogeneous region of adaptation of wheat cultivars 4 and that present favorable conditions for rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivation. The following information layers were crossed: use and coverage of the Cerrado biome, digital elevation model, and water requirement satisfaction index for wheat in the Cerrado biome. In addition, different levels of water stress (low, moderate, and high), risk levels (20, 30, and 40%), available soil water capacities (ASWCs) (35, 55, and 75 mm), cultivar cycles (105, 115, and 125 days), and sowing dates (in February and March) were also considered. A greater favorable area was observed for sowing in early February, and group I of cultivars (105 days) presented the greatest favorable area. Above 800 m altitude, 2.7 million hectares were classified as favorable for the best combination of factors, i.e., sowing on February 5, ASWC of 75 mm, 105-day cycle, 20% risk level, and low and moderate impacts.

Improved drought tolerance in wheat is required to unlock the production potential of the Brazilian Cerrado

“…This impact can be reduced by increasing the area and productivity of wheat cultivation in the four cultivation regions. In central Brazil, an area of ~4 Mha has been estimated as potentially appropriate for wheat in cultivation region 4 (Mingoti et al 2014), of which 2.7 Mha were classified as adequate for rainfed wheat (Pasinato et al 2018). However, even when both irrigated and rainfed cultivation are considered, the area in region 4 destined for wheat is only ~120 thousand hectares (CONAB 2017).…”

Choosing parent tropical wheat genotypes through genetic dissimilarity based on REML/BLUP

“…In 2019, the National Supply Company of Brazil (CONAB) recorded that southeastern and midwestern regions cultivated 227.40 thousand ha of wheat. These regions, although not traditionally wheat producers, show strong potential for further cultivation of the crop (Pasinato et al 2018). The expansion of wheat cultivation to new frontiers is dependent on the development of cultivars adapted to these new locations.…”

Multivariate Analysis for Wheat Genotypes Cultivated in Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado)

“…The Cerrrado, a Brazilian neotropical Savanna, covers 204.7 million hectares in the centre of the country (Sano et al, 2010), and it can be considered a region with great potential for the production of tropical wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Pasinato et al, 2018). Specifically, in the state of Minas Gerais, the land used by agriculture covers 2,122,452 hectares and the wheat cultivation, in 2018, occupied approximately 84,000 hectares (CONAB, 2018).…”

“…For the last 40 years there has been a search for better wheat cultivars for the Cerrrado and, currently, agronomists specialising in the tropical wheat crop seek genetic materials adapted to dryland or irrigated conditions (Caierão et al, 2014). The successful cultivation of tropical wheat in the dry climate of the Cerrado is explained by the early sowing (between February and March) of cultivars with a short growth-cycle on to water retentive soils (Pasinato et al, 2018). Furthermore, this crop stands out because it is harvested at a different time compared to the wheat grown in the main cereal producing regions in Brazil (Ribeiro et al, 2012).…”