Agrohydrometeorology

First phenological observations on the territory of Belarus were conducted, with brief interruptions, from the end of the 19th century in two localities in the Mogilev and Vitebsk regions. During the period 1924–1940, systematic phenological observations were carried out at eight sites: Vitebsk, Orsha, Gorki, Mogilev, Minsk, Borisov, Slutsk, and Kostyukovichi. The development of the main agrometeorological observation network in Belarus took place in the post-war years of 1945–1948 and continued until the mid-1990s.

Currently, agrometeorological observations in the republic are conducted at 44 observation points (including five agrometeorological stations: Sharkovshchina, Volkovysk, Gorki, Minsk (Samokhvalovichi settlement), and Vasilevichi). The network of observation points across the republic is arranged in such a way as to cover the main agricultural regions of Belarus with agrometeorological observations and provide an understanding of crop growing conditions throughout the entire country.

Agrometeorological observations are carried out according to the following parameters and characteristics:

• Soil moisture: at standard depths of the 0.0–1.0 meter layer; of the upper layers at depths of 0.0–0.02 meters and 0.1–0.12 meters.
• Air temperature: minimum at a height of 0.02 meters on a bare soil plot; minimum within the grass stand.
• Soil temperature: at the depth of the tillering node of agricultural crops and grasses; at depths of 0.05 and 0.10 meters on a bare soil plot.
• Crop development: developmental phases of agricultural crops; plant height of agricultural crops; plant stand density of agricultural crops; grain moisture content during harvest of cereal crops; assessment of crop condition; degree of crop damage; extent of weed infestation.
• Crop condition: potato tuber growth; sugar beet root growth; grass mass growth; depth of the tillering node in winter cereal crops; tillering capacity of winter cereal crops; root system condition.
• Productivity of cereal crops: number of underdeveloped spikelets per ear; number of developed spikelets per ear; total number of spikelets per ear.
• Yield structure of cereal crops: productivity parameters of cereal crops at the time of harvest maturity.
• Agrotechnical measures: type and quality assessment of the agrotechnical measure performed.
• Snow cover: character of snow cover distribution over the terrain; characteristics of soil condition under snow cover; height of snow cover in the winter crop field; dates of establishment and melting of stable snow cover; degree of snow coverage along the snow survey route; degree of snow coverage of the visible surroundings; degree of ice crust coverage along the route; thickness of the ice crust.
• Winter hardiness (survivability) of wintering agricultural crops.
• Winter hardiness (survivability) of fruit trees.
• Soil freezing and thawing.

Belhydromet annually prepares an agrometeorological yearbook containing agrometeorological observation data. Based on the annual observation results, the database is updated, which serves as a foundation for the generalization of agrometeorological characteristics, research work, and the use of agrometeorological information to support various organizations.

The main forms of agrometeorological support for the structures of the agro-industrial complex and government authorities are agrometeorological analytical and forecast information. Agrometeorological analytical and forecast information is based on the extensive use of field observation data from the state hydrometeorological network. Belhydromet produces forecasts of the yield of leading agricultural crops, the condition of winter crops before overwintering and after overwintering, productive moisture reserves in the soil by the start of the agricultural spring, the start dates of spring field work, sowing dates for early spring and winter crops, as well as forecasts for the development of grain crops, grasses, and fruit trees. The lead time for most agrometeorological forecasts ranges from 20–30 days to three months.