In the second decade of March, Ukraine experienced warmer-than-usual, sunny, sometimes windy, and almost dry weather caused by anticyclones. Overall, the average ten-day temperature corresponded to levels typical of late March to early April, ProAgro Group reports.

According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, a persistent lack of precipitation was observed across the country for the second decade in a row — rainfall was either minimal or absent.

Winter crops resumed vegetation almost everywhere. High daytime temperatures contributed to drying and warming of the upper soil layers, allowing farms in the southern regions, Chernivtsi, and Ternopil oblasts to begin sowing early spring crops and peas, with germination already noted on early plantings. Most fields carried out fertilization of winter wheat and winter rapeseed.

During the decade, there were short-term decreases in minimum soil temperature at the depth of the tillering node of winter crops and perennial grasses to 0 °C – minus 2 °C, which was safe for plants.

As of March 20, winter crops (wheat, barley, rye) were in the phases of tillering, formation of nodal roots, third leaf, and in some areas — sprouting. The condition of crops was generally assessed as good and satisfactory.

Fruit trees showed bud swelling, and in some places bud opening. Sap flow began in maple and birch.

As previously reported, in the first decade of March Ukraine experienced unusually warm and mostly dry weather, which significantly affected the condition of winter crops and the start of spring fieldwork.