In the Vitebsk region, 10-12% of the grain area will have to be re-sown due to the death of winter crops

March 1, Minsk / Tatyana Lobas - BELTA /. Agrometeorological conditions for the completion of winter crop overwintering have become more complicated in the northeastern region of Belarus, said Nadezhda Melchakova, head of the agrometeorological forecasts department of the Republican Hydrometeorological Center, to a BELTA correspondent. This conclusion of specialists is confirmed by the results of the regrowth of samples of winter cereal crops, rapeseed and perennial grasses, carried out at the end of February by network units of the hydrometeorological department. Full regrowth of cereal crops and mortality within the natural average for the republic was noted in 78% of samples. This is less than in January. In 18% of samples, thinning was increased and significant - up to 30% of plants died. Full regrowth of plants in all samples was noted only in the Grodno region. Winter cereal crops are in the worst condition in the Vitebsk region. Due to difficult overwintering conditions (prolonged snow cover on weakly frozen soil), snow mold has spread, and crops have rotted. About 20% of cereal samples in the Vitebsk region showed severe and very severe thinning during regrowth (30-40% of plants died, in some places up to 50-70%). For winter rapeseed, increased thinning of plants is noted in places in all regions, except for the Grodno region. In some districts of the Brest and Gomel regions, rapeseed mortality is 20-30% in the sample, in some areas in the west of the Vitebsk region, up to 40% of plants died from freezing. According to preliminary forecasts of agrometeorologists, 10-12% of the grain area in the Vitebsk region will need reseeding. Agricultural organizations are recommended to take care of the preparation of a reserve seed fund in advance. The condition of winter crops by the beginning of the growing season largely depends on the development of spring processes. With slow snowmelt, progressive development of diseases is possible on winter crops. Crops damaged by snow mold, as a rule, retain living growth points of shoots, therefore they are capable of forming a good harvest. Such fields need to be harrowed to remove infections and disease-damaged leaves, as well as fertilized with nitrogen. More weakened crops need additional fertilization. The result will be more effective if it is carried out in several stages, specialists recommend. -0-