Protect plants in hot weather

People in Yen Trung commune (Yen Dinh) cut off old leaves to reduce water evaporation to better protect crops during the hot season. Photo: Le Hoi

According to the forecast of the Thanh Hoa Province Hydrometeorological Station, in 2025, the North Central region is likely to experience many severe heat waves lasting from May to August, with temperatures higher than the average of many years. The heat waves occur mainly at noon and early afternoon, causing the soil to dry out, water to evaporate quickly, reducing the ability of plants to grow and develop. Along with that, some types of pests that arise strongly during the changing seasons are also a risk that many crop areas will be seriously affected if there are no proactive measures to prevent them.

In the summer-autumn crop of 2025, Thanh Hoa province plans to plant more than 120,000 hectares of various crops, mainly rice, corn, sugarcane, vegetables and perennial fruit trees. To ensure safe production in adverse weather conditions, the agricultural sector has directed localities to review and adjust the crop structure in accordance with water supply capacity, prioritizing short-term varieties, drought-resistant, and able to grow in hot conditions.

Protect plants in hot weather

People of Quang Hop commune (Quang Xuong) use automatic irrigation technology for crops during the hot season.

In Trieu Son district - one of the localities with large crop areas in the province, right from the beginning of the season, the district has guided communes and towns to choose rice varieties that are resistant to drought and pests such as QR1, Thien Uu 8, TBR225... At the same time, it requires agricultural service cooperatives to strengthen propaganda and technical training for farmers, especially water-saving farming measures, keeping the soil moist in prolonged hot conditions.

Director of Dan Ly Commune Agricultural Service Cooperative Bui Van Long said: "We guide people to apply fertilizer properly, use straw to cover the roots, and rotate watering in each area to ensure savings. At the same time, we regularly check the fields to detect pests early, spray pesticides properly and at the right time to minimize damage."

Not only rice and other crops, many perennial fruit trees are also facing pressure from harsh weather. In Tho Xuan district, local authorities have implemented many measures to protect crops such as covering the base with dry grass and leaves to retain moisture; recommending people to water in the early morning or cool afternoon to limit heat shock to plants; and increasing organic fertilizer to help plants increase resistance.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hao, owner of a 5-hectare orange plantation in Xuan Hoa commune, shared: "Every day, we divide the area into areas using a drip irrigation system, and cover the orange tree roots with specialized tarps to retain water. Thanks to that, up to now, the orchard still maintains a green canopy, the fruit grows evenly, and rarely falls off."

To support people in effectively coping with the heat, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has issued specific guidelines on dry season farming techniques, from selecting suitable varieties and planting schedules to water management measures, pest control and increasing the use of safe and effective agricultural materials. By June 2025, the whole province had dredged and cleared more than 1,500km of canals, repaired 68 pumping stations and 22 reservoirs to fight drought. Local authorities have established field monitoring teams, proactively coordinating irrigation water appropriately for each production area. Many localities such as Hoang Hoa, Hau Loc, and Yen Dinh have also deployed a water-saving irrigation model combined with a humidity sensor system to manage water intelligently, helping crops grow well even in prolonged drought conditions.

Article and photos: Chi Pham

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/bao-ve-cay-trong-trong-mua-nang-nong-253009.htm