During the second ten-day period of July, no significant changes in climatic conditions are expected

During the first half of the second ten-day period of July, a short-term, positive change in the agrometeorological conditions is expected. The frequent and in many parts of the country intense rainfall during the first ten days of July disrupted the course of field work and impeded the wheat harvest. In parts of Northwestern and Central Bulgaria (Vratsa – 85 l/m², Montana – 84 l/m², Lom – 118 l/m², Kneja – 81 l/m², Pleven – 77 l/m², Lovech – 88 l/m², Veliko Tarnovo – 120 l/m²), the Sofia field (Sofia – 1l8 l/m²) and in the southern regions (Kardzhali, Karnobat), the amount of precipitation exceeded the monthly norm. In individual fields, lodging, waterlogging of wheat stands and sprouting of the grain in the ears have been recorded.

The forecast rainfall during the second half of the period will additionally delay the wheat harvest, which will lead to a deterioration in the quality of the unharvested grain crop.

By the end of the second ten-day period, the development of spring crops will proceed at temperatures close to the climatic norms. During the period, flowering, fertilization and seed filling will take place in sunflower. In maize, depending on its earliness, different phases will be observed – from tasseling in late hybrids to milk maturity in early maize hybrids in places in the Danube Plain (Bazovets agrometeorological station) and in the southern regions (Plovdiv agrometeorological station). In soybean, mass pod formation will occur (Pavlikeni agrometeorological station), and in cotton – the flowering phase.

The humid weather during the past period and the hailstorms that occurred increased the risk of spread and development of a number of fungal diseases: late blight and Alternaria in tomatoes; grey mould in early dessert grape varieties, downy mildew in vine growth, late brown rot and scab in fruit trees.

Conditions for carrying out plant protection spraying will exist at the beginning of the period. The use of systemically acting fungicides with an appropriate pre-harvest interval, consistent with the ripening period of the crops, is recommended.

Source: NIMH