A few days ago began to circulate online A map in which the distribution of rains could be seen in the last two months. Although I had errorsthe distribution of rainfall was fine and showed a very clear photograph: while Central Europe lived a peculiar drought, in the Peninsula he had not stopped raining.
And it’s true. So much so that Aemet itself recognized that the soils of much of the country are saturated. That is, they no longer admit water and all the rain was running directly to the channels. That has been causing problems with the hope that the worst of the situation would happen soon. However, the models point to a new atmospheric block in northern Europe.
Is Spain in a situation of receiving more water or all that falls will end up being missing (while destroying everything in its path)?
We will not be exaggerating a bit? After all, water is water. We have been complaining about droughtNow that it rains we will also manage them to complain?
However, abundant rains are already having a direct impact on the field. It is true that crops such as cereals, vineyards and olive groves have benefited; others instead are In full red alert. A clear example is watermelons and melons. As with Huelva’s strawberries, high rainfall raised moisture levels causing a sudden “proliferation of pests and diseases such as Botrytis (a fungus) or Mildiu“They end up rotting plants.
But, little by we stop to analyze it, we see that the problem is greater (because it affects much less striking plants).
Let’s talk about the chickpea. 30% of the national chickpea production is concentrated in Seville. Well, as the Secretary General of Coag Sevilla says in The debateat this time “the plant would have to measure a span and still without sowing” because the accumulation of water on the grounds makes it unfeasible.
In general, the chickpea has to be more than 100 days in the countryside and “this year, hopefully, will pass 60”. That is turning it into a mousetrap and is making many farmers shuffle to sunflower (up to the limits that the PAC allows).
And what will happen? That we probably begin to notice a certain shortage of Spanish chickpea in July. That does not mean that the general prices will rise (those of the native varieades probably yes; but that is inevitable). Most likely, large distributors compensate for local shortages with imports from Mexico and the US – if the commercial war allows it, of course.
What if in April the same thing happens in March? Well, the thing is complicated. Between April and May the flowering of many fruit trees occurs. Citrus, for example, moisture It is not very good for them And we already know that the olive tree’s plot asks, above all, tranquility. That is, another month of historical rains would be a problem.
Also for the water system in general. Because, although we have Even much storage roomwe are not used to working with the reservoirs, the channels and the full pipes. The final result of more rain would be a waste.
What if not? Taking into account that March It has been a historic monthmost likely we do not approach the accumulated of the last weeks. That would force us to make bobbin lace (as in the case of chickpeas), but a good part of the field will depend on the meteorology being consistent and does not “deceive” the plants in their development.
Do not forget that March has been The coldest month in three years (in terms of thermal anomaly) and that has disoriented the biological machinery of all plant, animal or thing. In short: the long road to summer begins and we will need a little luck if we do not want this Historical blow of luck become an poisoned candy.
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