Unusual Rainfall Improves South Africa Soil Conditions
By Andrew Owen and Drew Lerner
Kansas City, July 28 (World Weather Inc.) – A notable weather disturbance tracked into South Africa earlier this week and produced widespread, significant, precipitation in many winter wheat production areas. Eastern portions of South Africa do not 
usually receive significant precipitation at this time of year and the rain helped bolster soil moisture in many areas. Soil moisture was short to very short before the rain event and much of the winter wheat was in need of significant moisture. Winter wheat conditions will improve in coming days because of the precipitation and the associated soil moisture boost. However, dry or mostly dry conditions will return during the next two weeks allowing some of the recent moisture to be lost to evaporation. Follow up rain will be needed prior to the resumption of aggressive winter crop development in September.
Rainfall during the past week was greatest from Eastern Cape and Natal through Free State and neighboring areas in North West. Moisture totals for the seven-day period ending this morning ranged from 0.75 to 2.80 inches with local amounts for areas near the Eastern Cape and Natal coasts up to 5.51 inches. Southwestern portions of Western Cape also received significant rain with moisture totals ranging from 0.75 to 2.87 inches. The remaining portions of Western Cape through western, 
southern, and central Northern Cape received 0.28 to 1.50 inches of rain. Other areas in North West and portions of Limpopo and Mpumalanga received anywhere from a trace to 1.30 inches of moisture.
A large portion of the winter wheat is grown in Western Cape and Free State with a few areas surrounding Free State producing the remaining crop. The recent rain has gone a long way toward improving topsoil moisture for wheat tillering and root development.
The latest soil assessment charts (above) showed adequate to slightly surplus soil moisture in all of the areas reporting significant rainfall since late last week. The moisture boost has lifted topsoil moisture to adequate and slightly surplus levels from the heart of Free State into southern and central Natal and eastern and southern portions of Eastern Cape. Winter crops have been developing very slowly in recent weeks due to cool temperatures and limited soil moisture. Now 
that there is moisture for crops to work with some new crop development is likely to take place. At this time of year, any growth that occurs is normally tiller development and improved root and leaf development potential.
Based on the production chart shown here, the most significant improvement to wheat conditions and production potential will likely be in Free State and southwestern portions of Western Cape since the two provinces produce the majority of the nation’s winter wheat.
Lingering poor subsoil moisture will leave a strong need for follow up rain prior to the start of spring crop development to assure the best production possible. Certainly this week’s rain was a boon to the nation and its potential production. Additional rain will be needed a little later this month and next. Some of the week’s rain also fell in sugarcane and citrus production areas resulting in some disruption to harvest progress, but the moisture will be good for next year’s crops.
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