We welcome January with very low minimum temperatures

The forecast minimum temperatures during the month, down to minus 15°C, in conditions without snow cover and with more prolonged persistence, will be critical for the winter cereal crops that did not manage to enter the tillering stage during their autumn vegetation. These values will also be critical for the underdeveloped winter rapeseed stands which, as a result of the autumn drought, did not form a rosette (of 7–8 leaves) – the stage in which the plants overwinter successfully.  

The high December temperatures prolonged the vegetation of the autumn-sown crops. As a result of the above-normal temperatures, some of the late-emerged winter cereal crops in Western Bulgaria, at the agrometeorological stations Kneja, Sofia, Kyustendil, formed 2–3 leaves.

In January, the agrometeorological conditions will be determined by temperatures around and above the climatic norms, which will maintain the autumn-sown crops and the perennial plantations in dormancy. The winter cereal crops will enter the coldest month of the year in different phenological stages – a consequence of the prolonged autumn drought and the delayed sowing. A significant part of the stands will overwinter at the three-leaf stage. In the tillering stage, the appropriate stage for overwintering, are a large part of the wheat stands in Eastern Bulgaria, Silistra, Glavinitsa, Tsarev Brod, Dolni Chiflik, Yambol, Karnobat. Weakened, in the emergence and initial leaf formation stages, are some of the late-sown winter cereal crops (sown in November) in places in the Danubian Plain, at the agrometeorological stations Nikolaevo, Pavlikeni.

The forecast minimum temperatures during the month, down to minus 15°C, in conditions without snow cover and with more prolonged persistence, will be critical for the winter cereal crops that did not manage to enter the tillering stage during their autumn vegetation. These values will also be critical for the underdeveloped winter rapeseed stands which, as a result of the autumn drought, did not form a rosette (of 7–8 leaves) – the stage in which the plants overwinter successfully.  

The expected precipitation in January, around and below the norm, will increase the soil moisture reserves in the 50 cm and 100 cm layers. At the beginning of winter, in most parts of the country, the level of moisture reserves in the one-meter soil layer is unusually low for the season. In places in Western Bulgaria, at the agrometeorological stations Kneja, Kyustendil, and in some of the eastern regions, at the agrometeorological stations Razgrad, Sliven, it is below 65% of the field capacity (FC).

In January, more suitable conditions for carrying out winter pruning in vineyards and orchards will occur during the second half of the month.

Source: NIMH