Favorable conditions for carrying out seasonal soil tillage and for sowing wheat and barley at the end of October

The 10–20 l/m2 of precipitation that fell during the previous period in the regions of Vratsa, Knezha, Pleven, Lovech, Sofia, Razgrad maintained good moisture in the upper soil layers and improved the conditions for the development of the sown autumn crops. In the second half of the period, in some locations (Kyustendil, Sofia, Dragoman, Kazanlak), the first autumn frosts and critical minimum temperatures for vegetable crops from late field production were recorded.

During the next seven-day period, the agrometeorological conditions will be determined by temperatures around and above the norm. Critical minimum values and risk of frost are not forecast. During the period, in wheat and barley, depending on the sowing dates, different phases will be observed – from emergence to the beginning of leaf formation. In the third ten-day period of October, the agrotechnical deadline for sowing winter cereal crops in the regions along the Black Sea coast is in progress.

The recorded amounts of precipitation at the end of the first and during the second ten-day period of October improved soil moisture in the upper soil layers. In the fifty-centimeter soil layer, the soil moisture content is 75-80% of field capacity. This improved the conditions for soil tillage, sowing and initial development of winter cereal crops and winter rapeseed.

During most days of the period, significant precipitation is not forecast and the conditions will be suitable for carrying out seasonal soil tillage, for the sowing of wheat and barley, for harvesting the fruit crop from late fruit tree species, and for conducting phytosanitary activities in permanent crops. The conditions will allow the inspection of winter cereal stands for the presence and harmful activity of the common vole and the wheat leaf beetle.

Source: NIMH