Suitable conditions for plant protection spraying in orchards

During the first half of April, the development of agricultural crops will proceed at an accelerated pace, at temperatures above the climatic norms. During the period, in the field regions, the winter cereal crops will be in the stem elongation stage. In rapeseed, the formation of branches and the budding stage will take place.

At the end of the first and the beginning of the second ten-day period of April, weather stabilisation is expected and suitable conditions will occur for carrying out urgent plant protection spraying in orchards. The precipitation at the beginning of spring increased the infection pressure of various fungal diseases – blossom blight (early brown rot), shot hole disease, scab, etc. In sweet cherry and sour cherry, post-bloom treatment against one of the most dangerous diseases – Cylindrosporiosis (white rust) must not be omitted.

Also during the following period, in many parts of the country the high moisture content in the upper soil layers will hinder the implementation of pre-sowing tillage and the delayed sowing of early and medium-early spring crops. Above-normal precipitation in March is the reason for missing the agrotechnical deadlines for sunflower sowing in a large part of the country’s field regions.

Source: NIMH