Large-scale cooling and precipitation in winter wheat regions benefit safe overwintering of winter wheat

This website news  Affected by a relatively strong cold air mass, since January 24, the central and eastern regions of China have experienced the largest-scale cooling and rain-snow weather process since the beginning of winter. This cooling and precipitation process is beneficial for increasing soil moisture in winter wheat regions, alleviating insufficient surface soil moisture in some wheat fields, and enhancing the cold resistance of winter wheat, and is very favorable for the safe overwintering and green-up growth of wheat.

The main characteristics of this cooling and precipitation weather process:

First, the temperature drop was relatively large.According to meteorological monitoring and agricultural condition scheduling, temperatures in most parts of China dropped by 4-8°C, with most of the winter wheat region seeing temperature drops of 6-8°C, among which parts of western Huang-Huai and eastern Jiangnan saw temperature drops exceeding 10°C.

Second, the scope of rain and snow was relatively wide.Rain and snow weather occurred in eastern Northwest China, western North China, Huang-Huai, Jiang-Huai, Jiangnan, Jianghan and eastern Southwest China. Among them, most of eastern Northwest China, North China, Huang-Huai and other places received cumulative precipitation of 1-10 mm, with some areas receiving 10-25 mm, and some areas of Jiang-Huai and Jianghan received 10-25 mm of precipitation.

Third, snowfall occurred in most of the winter wheat region.Eastern Northwest China, southwestern North China, western Huang-Huai, northern Jianghan, northern Jiang-Huai and other places experienced light to moderate snow, with local heavy to blizzard conditions, and snow depth in some areas reached 10-20 cm. Central and southern Henan experienced heavy snow of more than 5 mm, with local blizzard of more than 10 mm in southern Henan. Linfen, Shanxi experienced heavy snow of more than 5 mm. Shiyan, Xiangyang and other places in Hubei had snow depths of 5-10 cm. Along the Yangtze River and north of it in Anhui, 40 cities and counties experienced snow accumulation.

Fourth, the duration was relatively long.This round of large-scale cooling and rain-snow weather process began on January 24 and will end in early February. It is expected that on January 29-30, parts of southeastern Henan, central and eastern Hubei, central Anhui, southwestern Jiangsu and other places will have heavy snow, with local blizzards. After January 30, the snowfall area will press southward and weaken, mainly with light to moderate rain and snow. From February 6 to 9, the central and eastern parts of China will experience another rain-snow and windy cooling weather process, after which precipitation will stop and temperatures will rise.

According to feedback from major wheat-producing areas and expert analysis, winter wheat is currently in the overwintering period, and this cooling and precipitation weather process is very beneficial to winter wheat production.

First, surface soil moisture in wheat fields has been improved.Since December, most of the winter wheat region had no effective precipitation for 50 consecutive days, and coupled with temperatures being 1-2°C higher, soil moisture loss in some wheat fields accelerated, and signs of drought appeared. This rain and snow weather basically covered central Shandong, central and eastern Hebei, northern Henan and the hilly and mountainous areas of southwestern Henan, Weibei and northern Weinan in Shaanxi, southern Shanxi and other places where drought signs had previously appeared, effectively replenishing soil moisture. Professor Guo Tiancai, deputy head of the Wheat Expert Guidance Group of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the winter wheat region had no rain or snow for a long time; although the subsoil moisture of winter wheat was good, the surface soil moisture was insufficient. This rain and snow before the Beginning of Spring can be called timely rain, effectively replenishing surface soil moisture, connecting with the subsoil moisture, settling the soil, reducing evaporation, and alleviating drought signs.

Second, it is beneficial for the safe overwintering and green-up growth of wheat.Since the beginning of winter, temperatures have generally been high, and some early-sown wheat showed excessive growth. Cooling and precipitation weather is beneficial for controlling excessive growth and promoting vigorous growth of wheat and enhancing wheat's ability to resist cold and prevent freezing injury. Professor Ma Chuanxi of Anhui Agricultural University said that snow covering wheat fields and melting slowly not only helps wheat make full use of water but also exercises wheat's cold resistance, which is not only beneficial for the safe overwintering of wheat but also helpful for coping with “late spring cold” in spring.

Third, it reduces the base number of pests and diseases.All localities reported that since the beginning of winter, temperatures have generally been high, and in some areas pests and diseases occurred early and had a large base number. This cooling and rain-snow weather killed overwintering crop pathogens, insect eggs and underground pests, effectively reducing the base number of pests and diseases and lowering the risk of outbreak damage in spring.

All localities reported that the cooling and precipitation weather process also caused some open-field vegetables to be buried by heavy snow and frozen, and some greenhouses, plastic tunnels and other facilities to be crushed and damaged; rapeseed in some areas that was sown or transplanted earlier and showed early bolting and early flowering was frozen. Hubei Province reported that 260,000 mu of vegetables, rapeseed, tea and other crops in the province were frozen. In addition, rain and snow weather also caused transportation obstacles on some roads, affecting the transport of vegetables and other fresh agricultural products.

At present, there is less than one week until the Beginning of Spring, and the large-scale cooling and precipitation weather will continue. According to meteorological and hydrological forecasts, in early February, most of the winter wheat region will have higher temperatures and less precipitation. In spring, some areas of the northern winter wheat region may experience relatively severe spring drought. Our department will closely monitor weather changes, make arrangements early, respond effectively, and make every effort to promote the smooth progress of spring plowing production, so as to gain the initiative for achieving a bumper summer grain harvest.

First, strengthen monitoring and early warning.Continue to strengthen tracking and monitoring of cooling and precipitation weather, increase scheduling of rain and snow conditions, soil moisture and disaster conditions, analyze and judge impacts in a timely manner, release early warning information in a timely manner, and guide all localities to implement disaster prevention and reduction measures.

Second, mobilize and deploy early.On February 5, our ministry will hold a national video conference on spring field management and spring plowing preparation to mobilize and deploy spring field management and spring plowing preparation, and quickly set off an upsurge in spring field management and spring plowing preparation.

Third, do a good job in classified guidance.Organize experts, on the basis of in-depth investigations of soil moisture and seedling conditions in major production areas, to formulate technical guidance opinions for spring field management by region, by crop and by disaster type, provide classified guidance, and implement disaster prevention and reduction technical measures according to local conditions.

Fourth, strengthen work supervision.According to the growth of overwintering crops and the actual occurrence of disasters, dispatch work supervision groups at appropriate times to go deep into major production areas and severely affected areas to promote the implementation of various field management measures.