An unfavorable agrometeorological situation is currently developing in Belarus due to a deficit of precipitation, it threatens crops, Belhydromet reports.
“In most of the territory of Belarus, an unfavorable agrometeorological situation is developing. A long-term deficit of precipitation contributes to further drying out of the soil, ”says the message on the center's website.
Small local rains in the first ten days of June did not improve soil moisture; there was practically no rain on a significant territory of the republic.
According to Belhydromet, in most parts of the country, primarily under crops, productive moisture reserves are low. According to individual weather stations, the arable and half-meter layers are almost completely dried up. On the crops of cereal crops, yellowing, twisting and drying of leaves, yellowing of ears of corn are observed.
“In cereals, grasses, flax, which have been most affected by drought, the stems are drying out. The most drought-damaged winter grain crops in the Gomel region are harvested for haylage. The moisture supply of corn, potatoes, root crops in the first ten days of June also worsened in many regions, ”the Belhydromet said.
In the Gomel region, withering of corn began. Good and satisfactory soil moisture reserves are preserved mainly in the north-eastern part of the republic and in some central regions.
“Due to the uneven distribution of passing rains and strong drying of the soil, in the near future, in many areas, the moisture deficit will remain,” noted agrosynoptics.
As reported, in 2018, it is planned to harvest 9 million tons of grain in all categories of farms in Belarus, including 8,3 million tons in agricultural organizations.
It was also reported that last week in neighboring Ukraine, the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Rada (VAR, one of the largest business associations of the agro-industrial complex in the country) issued a warning that drought in the southern, central and eastern regions of Ukraine could lead to a loss of about 50% of the crop cereals.
Source: Interfax