The agroclimatic conditions during the 2015/2016 growing season were very good for wheat.

Rains were adequate all season long resulting in high yields. Planting began in May and extended to the end of July. Only in the first week of August, rains delayed planting of short cycle varieties in predefined fields.

Temperatures were as expected until August, leading to normal tillering. From September to end of October, mean temperatures were 1° and 2°C below average, extending tillering and booting and delaying flowering by 7 to 10 days.

Temperatures at grain filling were either average of little below average; the stage was completed in approximately 35 days, a time length that is usual in the region.

From November 15/20 until grain maturity there was little rain: grain filling was impacted in fields with limited depth due to rocks or tuff. In deep soils, with good rotation practices and water accumulation along the cycle, water stress was reduced. Shallow soils presented lower yields and poorer commercial quality.

Foliar diseases incidence was not important. Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) incidence was medium in susceptible varieties. Stem rust (Puccinia graminis) and Septoria leaf spot responded well to timely applications of foliar chemicals.

Deep soils with good water availability resulted in high yields, with an average of 6,000 kg/h and maximums of 8,500 kg/h. Yields in shallow soils, on the other hand, dropped and attained an average of 3,000 kg/h.

Protein content in high yield fields was low, below 10% (on a 13.5% humidity basis), due to the little technology applied by farmers. Commercial quality in optimum fields was high, about 80 kg/h. Test weight presented regular numbers: 30-40 gr.

SUBREGION DATA​

En esta subregión la producción fue de 1.370.586 tn., que representan 12,2 % sobre el total nacional para la campaña. A los fines de este informe fueron muestreadas 77.732 tn., el 5,7 % de la producción de la subregión.