Weather favors germination of late crops in Ukraine

Crop growth and development in Ukraine during the second decade of May took place under conditions of slow accumulation of effective heat and mostly sufficient soil moisture, according to experts from the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.

“Due to effective precipitation recorded throughout the period, moisture reserves in all soil layers were replenished across almost the entire country. This was a favorable factor during the peak moisture consumption period for winter crops and for the development of early spring crops. With improved moisture in the upper soil layer, which remained sufficiently warm, conditions were favorable for grain germination and the emergence of technical and late crop seedlings,” the report said.

Agrometeorologists also noted that the stable transition of the average daily air temperature above +15°C (the start of meteorological summer) occurred across most of Ukraine on May 3–5, about one and a half to two weeks earlier than the long-term average. Only in some areas of the northern, western, and southern regions did the transition occur on May 16–20, either close to or slightly earlier than average long-term dates.

“Cool weather was generally satisfactory for the vegetation of winter and early spring grain crops, which are less demanding in terms of heat. At the same time, due to a deficit of effective heat, growth processes were slow, especially for heat-loving vegetable, melon, fruit, and berry crops,” the experts noted.

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