Extreme heat in Ukraine will negatively affect soybean, corn and sunflower crops

UkrAgroConsult

On July 1-12, in most regions of the western part of Ukraine, the maximum air temperature rose to +31-34°, in the rest of the country – to +35-38°, in the southern regions – to +39-41°, which is a criterion for extreme heat and is close to the absolute maximum temperature recorded in Ukraine in the history of meteorological observations.

Due to the extremely high level of average daily temperatures and rapid accumulation of effective heat (its amount since the beginning of the growing season is significantly higher than the long-term average and is one of the highest for the entire period of observation), there was a reduction in the interphase periods of soybean, sunflower and corn development, which could lead to a premature end of the growing season and a decrease in yield. In many areas, wilting of plants was observed in the daytime, and in some places in the south, drying out and complete death of sunflower and soybean plants due to drought.

Corn is currently at a very vulnerable stage of development to high temperatures, with emergence and flowering of panicles and a maximum need for moisture. Hot weather causes pollen sterilization, lack of pollination of plants, formation of inferior cobs with gaps, without grain, and, accordingly, a decrease in yield.

Although sunflower is more resistant to high temperatures, drought and heat stress will also have a negative impact. The formation of small seeds is likely to reduce yields.

The heat is expected to ease on the 18th, starting in the west, and the rest of the territory will be almost as it is now.

Tags: drought, sunseed, Ukraine, corn, soybean