Strong heat can reduce the yield of late crops by 20-30%, the Hydrometeorological Center reports

Adverse weather conditions that have developed in the central, eastern and southern regions of Ukraine and will continue for some time may reduce the yield of late crops by 20-30%, the Hydrometeorological Center reports in the report "Operational information on adverse agrometeorological conditions in July 2024 and their influence on the formation of the harvest of late agricultural crops in Ukraine".

Starting from the end of June, air drought began to spread across Ukraine, which in many regions was combined with soil drought and as of July 15 covered large areas, on which about 30-50% of late crops are sown.

"Against the background of an abnormally high level of average daily temperatures and the rapid accumulation of effective heat, the amount of which has significantly exceeded the average long-term indicators since the beginning of the growing season, there is a reduction in the interphase periods of the development of soybean, sunflower and corn plants, which can lead to premature drying of the plants," meteorologists note. .

The most vulnerable to high temperatures now is corn, which needs a lot of moisture during the flowering period. A decrease in soil moisture reserves and heat stress in some fields led to wilting, cessation of growth, yellowing and drying of leaves and stems, and in some places the plants completely.

"Heat causes sterilization of pollen, poor pollination of plants, formation of cobs, which reduces the final yield," the report emphasizes.

Dry and hot weather will have a negative impact on sunflower crops, as it will lead to the formation of small seeds and a decrease in yield.

According to meteorologists, after July 18-20, short-term rains and thunderstorms will occur in the western regions, which will lower the temperature to 25-28 ^o C.