It has been an unexpected (and very wet) start to the year. The state of California is facing floods, heavy rainfall, and mudslides. The storm cleared up and the sun is making an appearance again. Although rainfall can help farms, how does this excess affect agriculture?
Flooding can prevent newly seeded plants from germinating. Since the oxygen levels are too low, germinated seeds and plants cannot perform essential functions. This can affect root/shoot development, nutrient absorption, and lead to reduced yield or potential crop death.
Despite the sun’s reappearance, the aftermath continues to cause problems. Some farms are unable to harvest due to flooding, sinking from the mud, or soil crusting. As the soil rapidly dries and hardens, plants end up dying if they cannot push through.
The heavy rainfall can deplete essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, from the soil. Pests, mildew, and mold become a prevalent problem caused by high levels of moisture. Additionally, fungal growth and diseases become more prevalent.
The heavy rainfall and flooding we had this year are now affecting production costs and forcing farmers to make tough decisions. There are questions of when to reapply more fertilizers, has the rain caused nutrient deficiency, and what diseases are now in the oversaturated soils.
Here at JH Biotech, we are dedicated to helping our growers in this time. Our plant nutrition specialists are on hand to answer any question and advise on any necessary inputs to help reinvigorate soil and support healthy growth. Got to our contact us section to get in touch with one of them today. There are also resources that can help farmers and farm workers to recover from these storms. For more information and resources, click here.