In Ukraine, winter crop damage reaches 12%, stone fruit crops – up to 51%
Kyiv • UNN
The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center reported damage to 12% of winter crops and up to 51% of stone fruit crops. Vegetation began earlier than expected due to anomalous March warmth.
In Ukraine, winter crops and fruit trees were surveyed. According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, winter crop damage reached 12%, and stone fruit crops up to 51%, UNN reports.
Details
The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center noted that due to very warm weather in March, active spring processes began quite early. The final transition of the average daily air temperature through 5 °C towards an increase occurred almost throughout the country on March 3-11 (2-3 weeks earlier than the average long-term dates), and in Sumy, some districts of Chernihiv, Cherkasy, and Kharkiv regions on March 22-26 (a week and a half earlier than the average long-term dates).
According to the results of spring surveys of winter crops conducted by meteorological stations, it was determined that most areas are in good and excellent condition. The total area of winter crops in unsatisfactory condition (which will require reseeding or undersowing) may be about 12% of the sown area.
According to meteorologists, as of March 31, wintering crops have resumed vegetation throughout the country, and on early sown spring crops, grain germination and seedling emergence have already been observed.
According to data from fruit growing conducted in the first half of March, the death of apricot flower buds in Kyiv and Kherson regions ranged from 13 to 33%, and in Mykolaiv region up to 51%. The death of cherry flower buds in Chernihiv, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions ranged from 2 to 15%, and sweet cherry buds up to 14-16%. According to the Volyn, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Mykolaiv hydrometeorological centers, the death of apple flower buds ranged from 3 to 14%. No damage was found in peaches, plums, pears, and grapes.
Add
The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center notes that sufficient warming and optimal moistening of the upper soil layers in the southern and some western regions allowed for early sowing of spring grain and leguminous crops, already in the middle of the month.
According to observations of the 10-cm soil layer temperature as of March 31, the temperature level (7-15 °C) allowed for timely sowing of all early agricultural crops.
Despite the precipitation deficit in March, the upper soil layer in most areas was still well-moistened, only in some areas of the southern, western, and Dnipropetrovsk regions it was slightly moistened, and in places dry, meteorologists add.
Reserves of productive moisture under winter and early spring crops at the end of March in most areas corresponded to sufficient and optimal indicators, only in some areas of the southern, western, and Vinnytsia regions, moisture reserves were slightly lower than the average long-term for the early spring period. Spring soil wetting ranged from 65 to 150 cm and more.