Favorable agrometeorological conditions

During the third ten-day period of April, the agrometeorological conditions will be determined by temperatures above the climatic norms. By the middle of the period, the winter cereal crops will be predominantly in the stem elongation phase. In some places in Southern Bulgaria, wheat and barley will be transitioning from stem elongation to heading, and the beginning of the heading phase will be observed. During this period, wheat fields should be monitored for the occurrence and population density of one of the most important pests – the sunn pest, as well as for the development of certain fungal diseases – septoria leaf blotch, leaf rust, and powdery mildew.

Winter rapeseed will predominantly be in the flowering phase. In sunflower stands sown at the end of the first ten-day period of April, in some areas of the Danube Plain – Băzovec, Novachene, Pavlikeni – emergence and the initial stage of leaf formation will be taking place. In the vineyards, the 1–3 leaf stages will be observed, and in the southern regions – also inflorescence separation. During this period, the first preventive treatment against powdery mildew (oidium) must be carried out. More favourable conditions for conducting plant protection spraying will occur during the first half of the period.

By the middle of the third ten-day period, significant precipitation is not expected. In most of the field regions, the conditions will allow for soil tillage and for the seriously delayed, beyond the agrotechnical deadlines, sowing of sunflower. Soil temperatures in the 10 cm layer have suitable values for sowing grain maize, and by the end of the following period they will also be suitable for sowing thermophilic spring crops (cotton, beans, peanuts, watermelons, melons).

Source: NIMH