Improving the conditions for the development of agricultural crops

After the dry and hot weather, a substantial change in agrometeorological conditions is expected during the next seven-day period. In mid-July, significant precipitation, a decrease in temperatures and an improvement in the conditions for the development of agricultural crops are forecast. There will be a likelihood of hail.

After the dry and hot weather, a substantial change in agrometeorological conditions is expected during the next seven-day period.

The extremely high temperatures and low atmospheric humidity at the beginning of the second ten-day period of July had an adverse effect on part of the spring crops and caused flower and fruit drop in some vegetable crops (tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, green beans). Unlike the northern and central regions, in many places in Southern Bulgaria the July precipitation was of no economic significance, which led to a deepening of the soil moisture deficit. In some locations in the Thracian Plain (the agrometeorological stations Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Sliven) there is no moisture in the 50 cm soil layer, and in the 100 cm layer soil moisture reserves are scarce – below 50–55% of field capacity.

During the first half of the next seven-day period, significant precipitation, a decrease in temperatures and an improvement in the conditions for the development of agricultural crops are forecast.

By the end of the second ten-day period, with temperatures close to the norm and improved soil moisture reserves, flowering, fertilization and seed filling in sunflower will continue. In maize, depending on its earliness, different stages will be observed – from tasseling in later hybrids to the beginning of the milk maturity stage in early maize hybrids in some places in the southern regions of the country. In cotton, the beginning of the flowering stage will be observed by the end of the period.

During the period, the probability of hail and the risk of grain shattering are again forecast. More suitable conditions for conducting the wheat harvest will occur at the end of the second ten-day period of July.

At present, the average wheat yields obtained are good to very good, in many places in the country exceeding 500 kg/da.