Cold Weather Hits China’s Major Wheat-Growing Regions

Cold temperatures and drought have damaged wheat crops in China’s main areas for wheat production in northern China as well as the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River but the following months will show the impact on summer grain.

In core areas, the seedling period was better than last year, Zhang Zhixian, vice president of the China Grain Yida Research Institute, said to Yicai Global. Especially in the early stages, there were two large-scale precipitations in the central and eastern regions, which is very good for alleviating drought, Zhang said.

The core areas will enter an important period of stem elongation and heading so the weather is key to determining summer grain production, Zhang said. The summer harvest usually spans from May to late June.

The frost damage varies in different regions, according to Wang Zhimin, professor at China Agricultural University. The vast majority of wheat fields have frozen leaves, while a small number of fields are seriously frostbitten and the soil is completely dry, he added.

However, the tillers and roots are still vibrant and can grow normally after turning green from yellow, per Wang. Moreover, the degree of frost damage is related to wheat varieties and sowing quality, he added.

Although the frost damage in the past two decades, including the years of 2009 and 2012, has been serious, this year, the area of frostbitten seedlings is exceptionally large as it has been cold and dry, according to Wang.

The government has promoted returning wheat straw to the field for many years, Zhang said, adding that the practice that is predicted to improve output could make matters worse if the straw is not treated and the weather remains unfavorable.

Tags: China, grain, weather, Production, wheat, drought, cold temperatures, core areas