AGROMETEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN CENTRAL NORTH BULGARIA REGION FOR MAIZE GROWING

Abstract

There exist a large variation in the yield of maize in Bulgaria regardless of the high productive potential of maize, and the favorable marketing conditions in the world. Climate change during the last 3 decades, the limited possibilities for irrigation are a limiting factor in determining suitable areas for maize growing. The period with sufficient moisture is decisive in choosing a suitable hybrid. The analysis of the agro-climatic potential of the region and the adaptation of the cultivation technology to the peculiarities of the contemporary agro-meteorological conditions are the basis of the good crop yields. In recent years, there exist unfavorable trends of changes in the temperatures and distribution of precipitation during the growing season. The aim of this study is to evaluating the agro-climatic conditions in Central Northern Bulgaria, with a view to the possibilities of growing maize hybrids with different durations of the growing season. For this purpose we are used agroclimatic indices characterizing the complex of hydrothermal conditions and soil moisture for the period 1991-2020 in the Central Northern Bulgaria. We have assessed of statistical significance of the tendencies of changes at the rainfall. There were taken into account and results from field experiment carried out on the fields of the Maize Research Institute in Knezha. From this experiment are received data for the period of leaf formation duration and soil water availability for hybrids from different groups of FAO. The results show that the temperatures and moisturizing state in the region of investigation as a result of new conditions are getting worse. The cultivation of maize for grain must be carried out with a very precise choice of the hybrids and their water requirements.