The ground frost forecast for the immediate period can affect the crops, primarily the blooming ones. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry informed about the possible risks and the measures that should be taken to protect the sowed areas and orchards, IPN reports.
The temperatures below 0°C affect the blossoming trees and can sometimes destroy the whole harvest. The apricot, peach, cherry, apple, walnuts and hazelnut trees are most seriously exposed in this case. The grapevines, primary the early types, can also be impacted. The field crops are affected by late spring frosts to a smaller extent as they are less sensible to frost.
The corn plants that already sprouted can be 5% to 10% affected by frosts, depending on the period of sowing, while sunflower and sugar beet can be affected only in the northern districts of the country. The vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and cucumbers, and tobacco plants are very vulnerable to cold and can die at 0 – 1°C.
Specialists recommend that the plants sensitive to frost should be cultivated on southern or southwestern sloping lots. The surface of the soil can be warmed by irrigation or with warm air. It is recommended using agro-technical methods that influence the thermic properties of the arable land and radiative processes on ground.
To insure agricultural production against risks in Moldova, the state subsidizes up to 70% of the insurance.
