The second half of July – dry and hot weather

In the second half of July, the development of agricultural crops will proceed at an accelerated pace under above-normal temperatures for the second ten-day period of July.

For maize, depending on the earliness of the hybrids, different stages will be observed – leaf formation, tasseling, flowering of the tassel and silking. In sunflower, flowering and seed filling will take place. The active water consumption of the crops and the absence of precipitation of agricultural significance during the period will lead to a decrease in soil moisture reserves. In certain areas of Eastern Bulgaria, depletion of soil moisture reserves in the 50 cm layer will be observed, which will necessitate the application of an appropriate irrigation regime.

Conditions for carrying out plant protection spraying will be present during the cooler hours of the day, in the evening and early in the morning. During the period, treatments against powdery mildew, scab and codling moths in orchards, and against oidium and European grapevine moth in vineyards should continue.

The forecast hot and dry weather requires that grain harvesting be carried out with increased caution and in compliance with agrotechnical measures in order to prevent the risk of fires in agricultural areas.

Source: NIMH