Classificação dos campeões de produção de soja - CESB da safra 15/16 a 22/23

Abstract

With extensive utilization of the grain and its derivatives as sources of protein and energy, soybean cultivation plays a vital role in meeting the global population's food needs. It is considered the primary crop in Brazilian agribusiness, serving as a key driver of the national economy. Brazil's massive growth in soybean production — which has established the country as a global agricultural benchmark, ranking as the second-largest producer and largest exporter — stemmed from the incorporation of new land areas and a combination of agricultural variables into the production process. This is evidenced by productivity competitions, where growers achieve yield levels far exceeding those typically observed in standard agricultural practice. Each year, the Brazilian Strategic Soybean Committee (CESB) organizes the National Maximum Soybean Productivity Challenge; its mission is to increase output within the same land area by leveraging research, technology, and sustainability to achieve peak yields and boost national production. Given this context, the present study aimed to analyze soil chemistry results from CESB-winning growers across the 2015/16 through 2022/23 crop seasons. To understand soil nutrient dynamics in relation to production, a multivariate Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to group elements based on their behavior within the dataset. Data analysis revealed that organic matter (OM), Ca, Mg, Mn, and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) were the factors correlated with productivity. It was also determined that the South region is the leading producer, followed by the Southeast, Center-West, and North/Northeast regions; these conclusions were drawn based on regional yield data and the observed correlations.