Аgrometeorological forecast for June

During the first ten-day period of June, agrometeorological conditions will be determined by unstable weather. At the beginning of the month, significant precipitation is forecast and an improvement of soil moisture reserves in the 50 and 100 cm soil layer. In most parts of the country, soil moisture reserves for spring crops will reach levels up to, and in the Danube Plain – even above 80-85% of field capacity. Soil moisture will remain lower in some of the eastern and southern regions, where May precipitation was lower, in places below 50-60% of the monthly norms – G. Delchev, Sliven, St. Zagora, Varna, Karnobat, Burgas, Ahtopol.

At the beginning of June, the development of agricultural crops will proceed at a slower pace, under cool-for-the-season weather conditions. During the first ten-day period, grain filling and the milk ripeness stage will occur in wheat. At the end of the ten-day period, in barley in some places in the southern regions, wax ripeness will also be observed – Sandanski. Showers will limit the possibilities for conducting plant protection spraying against downy mildew in vines and vegetable crops, scab and brown rot in fruit trees, and against the sunn pest in winter cereal crops. During the second half of the period, the probability of hailstorms and local precipitation remains, posing a risk of damage to agricultural crops. The risk of lodging in wheat and barley stands is high.

During the second ten-day period, an improvement and normalization of thermal conditions is forecast. During this ten-day period, barley will complete its development. In rapeseed, the ripening stage will occur.

During the third ten-day period, the development of agricultural crops will proceed at temperatures close to the climatic norms. During this period, in wheat in the field regions, wax ripeness will be observed.

At the end of June, part of the spring crops will enter the reproductive stages of their development. In early maize hybrids, the tasseling stage will be observed, and in sunflower sown within the agrotechnical time frame – the beginning of the flowering stage.

On most days of the month, the high atmospheric humidity will maintain favourable conditions for the development of a number of fungal diseases: scab, shot-hole disease and powdery mildew in fruit trees; downy mildews in vegetable crops and vines, etc. In vines, the interphase period from flowering of the inflorescences to formation of fruit set of pea size is critical for infection with downy mildew and powdery mildew (oidium). More suitable conditions for carrying out the extremely important plant protection spraying will occur during the first half of the second and during the third ten-day period of June.

Throughout the month, the probability of hailstorms will remain increased. In case of hail damage, it is advisable that the affected fruit and vegetable crops be treated with copper-containing fungicides at the first opportunity.

Source: NIMH