The first winter month December came to the end. From an agronomic point of view, overwintering of winter crops was carried out under satisfactory weather conditions during this month. The minimum air temperature reached minus 8-11 °C, the maximum depth of freezing of the soil reached 10-12 cm. However, during these peak periods, the temperature of the soil, at the depth of the bedding site, was minus 2-3 °C due to a small snow cover of height of 2-6 cm.
It is pleasant that during October, 2016 the amount of precipitation monthly exceeded the average annual figures – there is a drinking of soil with moisture, which so lacked during the vegetation season.
It is too early to make any positive statements about overwintering, because there are still 2-3 months ahead, during which the agricultural plants will be in a state of rest and may be damaged by severe frosts. The first estimate of overwintering in the group of companies of TM “Viliya” is made after January 20 – the monoliths will be selected at that time, after which the plant condition will be assessed and the weather conditions of the first half of winter will be assessed.
As for the winter seeding before winter, according to the crop inventory conducted in the group of companies of TM “Viliya” in the last week of November, 95% of the crops of winter rape were in good condition (having 8-14 leaves and the thickness of the root cervix 10-15 mm), and 75% of the crops of winter wheat are in the phase of bunching and already developed 2-3 stems, the remaining 25% of the area (the October sowing dates) – only 1-3 leaves were able to develop.
At the moment, we still cannot predict whether additional nitrogen will have to be added to rape (the dose of fertilization will depend on the overwintering of leaf apparatus), but 25% of the winter wheat that did not have time to splurge will necessarily require an additional 30-40 kilograms of active nitrogen.
Ahead Christmas frosts up to -20 degrees, let’s wish together our fields covered with a protective snow blanket…
