At the end of September and the beginning of October, conditions will be favorable for the development of pathogens causing rot in the unharvested crop

In September, in some places in the southern regions (Haskovo, Pazardzhik, Chirpan, Karnobat, Plovdiv, Sandanski, Sliven, Burgas), economically significant precipitation of between 15–20 l/m² fell and provided the necessary moisture for the emergence of winter rapeseed sown within the agrotechnical time frame.

An improvement in agrometeorological conditions is forecast at the end of the month. During the period, late maize hybrids will complete their development and will enter full maturity. In late fruit tree varieties and vineyards, the ripening processes will proceed at temperatures around the climatic norms.

During the period, no significant precipitation is expected and the conditions will allow the completion of harvesting of late spring crops, the carrying out of pre-sowing tillage on areas designated for sowing with wheat and barley, and the application of mineral fertilizers. During the period, the agrotechnical time frame for the sowing of winter cereal crops in the high fields and the Fore-Balkan begins. By the end of September, the conditions will allow overcoming the delays in the sowing of winter rapeseed. The period is suitable for autumn sowing of spinach and for the establishment of new strawberry plantations.

At the beginning of the period, in isolated locations in the basin fields, the possibility of frost formation cannot be excluded, which requires the timely harvesting of produce susceptible to frost damage.

During the first week of October, the agrometeorological conditions will be determined by unstable weather, and during the second half of the period – also by below-normal temperatures. The forecast precipitation in the first week of October will delay the clearing of areas from late row crops. The wet and cool weather in the middle of the first ten-day period will be a prerequisite for the development of pathogens causing rot – grey mould on the unharvested crop of later wine grape varieties, and late brown rot on the fruits of autumn-winter fruit tree varieties.

The precipitation that fell at the end of September in the northwestern regions, in part of the northeastern regions and in the Sofia field, in the range of 20–30 l/m² (N. selo, Vidin, Lom, Oryahovo, Sofia, V. Tarnovo, Dobrich), increased the moisture reserves in the upper soil layers. During the following period, in Western Bulgaria and the central regions, the probability of local, intensive precipitation is again forecast, which will impede the implementation of pre-sowing tillage on the areas designated for sowing with autumn crops. Serious delays are expected in the sowing of winter rapeseed. The adverse agrometeorological conditions at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the drought and the subsequent intensive precipitation, are the reason in many places in the field regions for missing the agrotechnical time frames in September for rapeseed sowing – a crop requiring precise agronomy. At the beginning of October, the agrotechnical time frame for wheat sowing in Northern Bulgaria begins.

Source: NIMH