Winter Crops in Lviv Region Wrap Up Autumn Vegetation: Crop Conditions

In the Lviv region, a significant cold snap is causing a slowdown in the autumn vegetation of winter cereal crops. As of November 3, key crops including wheat, rye, and triticale were in the tillering phase, but steady air temperature drops are rapidly bringing their active growth and development to a close.

According to the Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of NAAS, during the period from October 29 to November 4, the average air temperature in the region dropped noticeably from 8.5 to 5.4 °C. The lowest figure was recorded on November 2 at 0.5 °C, while the highest was reached on October 29 at 10 °C. Precipitation over the week totaled 4.9 mm.

Overall for October, the average monthly air temperature stood at 9.8 °C with 45.9 mm of precipitation. In the third decade of the month, the average temperature was 8.6 °C, and precipitation reached 25.3 mm. Experts note that by November 3, the Spivanka Poliska winter wheat variety (sown September 24), along with the Serpanok rye and Olevia triticale (sown September 23), had reached the tillering phase (BBCH 22–23). Due to nighttime temperatures approaching zero, physiological processes in plants have slowed significantly, with vegetation expected to halt completely on November 5–6.

As the season concludes, farmers are strongly advised to conduct detailed field surveys, taking into account the crop variety, predecessor, sowing dates, and applied fertilizers. During inspection, it is essential to determine plant density and developmental phase, evaluate coloration, and check crops for diseases, pests, and weeds. Based on these assessments, crops are typically divided into four categories.

Good condition crops feature well-rooted and tillered plants with 3–5 stems and a density of 350–400 plants per square meter. Satisfactory crops are in the third-leaf phase or early tillering with a density of 300–350 plants per square meter, including overgrown plants 30–35 cm tall. Weak crops are in the 2–3 leaf or emergence phase, thinned, with a density of 250–300 plants per square meter. Unsatisfactory crops are in the spikelet/awl phase with a density of less than 250 plants per square meter. Daily average temperatures in the region are approaching the biological minimum required for winter crop development.