Heat waves in several regions of Kazakhstan are hindering a high grain harvest, according to the Kazakhstan Grain Union. Meanwhile, a Kazhydromet report for the second ten-day period published yesterday stated that productive moisture reserves in the arable soil remain insufficient, and air temperatures reached +35°C, coinciding with the critical phase of spring wheat ripening, according to APK News.
"Last week, localized thunderstorms occurred in several northern and eastern regions of the country. Daytime temperatures ranged from +28°C to +35°C and from +19°C to +25°C at night. In some regions, precipitation was insufficient or delayed for early-planted grains.
The development phase for spring wheat and barley is ripening to milky ripeness, while for flax, it is boll formation," said Union analyst Evgeny Karabanov.
According to weather forecasters, hot weather, with occasional thunderstorms and hail, is expected in the northern, central, and eastern regions of Kazakhstan this week. Daytime temperatures will range from 28°C to 37°C, dropping to 18°C to 24°C at night.
Winter grain harvesting continues in the southern and western regions of the country. Harvesting of early barley and legumes (peas and lentils) has begun in the northern regions.
"Dry and hot weather in some regions of Kazakhstan is not conducive to a high grain harvest," said E. Karabanov.
It's worth noting that in agronomy, the grain-filling phase is considered critical: it is during this period that plants are most sensitive to moisture stress and high temperatures, and temperatures above 30°C to 35°C can lead to a suspension of photosynthesis and premature drying of the grain.
Meanwhile, Kazhydromet released a review of agrometeorological conditions for the second ten-day period of July, reporting that in the west and north of the country, satisfactory and optimal moisture availability was primarily recorded in the 0.5- and 1-meter-thick soil layers, while moisture reserves in the arable soil layer continued to decline in most monitoring sites. In the central and eastern parts of the country, productive moisture reserves in the arable and 0.5-meter-thick soil layers remain insufficient.
In the south and southeast, in areas where winter grain crops are grown, the average ten-day air temperature was 3-6°C above normal. No precipitation was recorded in areas where winter grain crops are grown.
In the south and southeast of the country, crops are generally in the "full maturity" stage of development. Winter wheat harvesting has begun in some areas of the Zhambyl and Turkestan regions.
The Ministry of Agriculture reportedly has no concerns about the loss of part of the grain harvest.