Agrometeorological forecast for the first half of March

During the first half of March, agrometeorological conditions will be characterized by increased dynamics. After the brief decrease in temperatures at the beginning of the month, a significant improvement in thermal conditions is expected during the first week of March. The forecast above-normal temperatures, with maximum values up to 20°C, will lead to activation of vegetation in the autumn-sown crops and in the early-flowering fruit crops in the agricultural regions of the country.

The high maximum temperatures at the end of February, in some places reaching 21-23°C (Vidin, Vratsa, Lovech, Veliko Tarnovo, Pazardzhik), have resumed vegetative processes in wheat, barley and winter rapeseed, and have disrupted the forced dormancy in part of the perennial plantations.

During the first half of March, agrometeorological conditions will be characterized by increased dynamics. After the brief decrease in temperatures at the beginning of the month, a significant improvement in thermal conditions is expected during the first week of March. The forecast above-normal temperatures, with maximum values up to 20°C, will lead to activation of vegetation in the autumn-sown crops and in the early-flowering fruit crops in the agricultural regions of the country.

At the end of the first ten-day period and during the first half of the second ten-day period, agrometeorological conditions will be determined by temperatures around and below the climatic norms, which will restrict the development of agricultural crops. In Northern Bulgaria and in the high fields, where precipitation including snow is not excluded, attenuation and cessation of vegetation in the autumn-sown crops will be observed. In Southern Bulgaria, the values of the average daily temperatures will be close to the biological minimum required for the development of winter cereal crops and winter rapeseed.

By mid-March, the phases of bud swelling and bud burst in the early-flowering species (almond, apricot, peach) will be occurring in the fruit crops in the southern regions of the country. During the period, critical minimum temperatures for the crops in the plains are not forecast.

Frequent precipitation during the first half of the month will hinder, in many parts of the country, the timely implementation of seasonal agrotechnical activities – top-dressing of autumn-sown crops with nitrogen mineral fertilizers, pre-sowing soil tillage and sowing of early spring crops (vetch, oats, peas, spring barley). More suitable conditions for carrying out pre-flowering spraying in orchards will occur during the first week of March and at the beginning of the second ten-day period.

Source: NIMH-BAS