Poland: agricultural drought extends after summer months
Due to the lack of rainfall and high air temperature the range of agricultural drought in Poland increases for all monitored crops. The Polish Soil Institute still reports intensive drought in the 4 north-western provinces of the country, with all provinces affected for certain crops and to some extent.
In the reporting period from 21 June to 20 August 2020, the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG), which determines the state of agricultural drought risk in all communes in Poland (2477 communes), states that as a result of the humidity conditions agricultural drought occurs in all provinces of Poland for various crops.
Due to the lack of rainfall and high air temperature, the water deficit increased, sometimes by more than 50 mm of water. The greatest water shortages for arable crops in the reporting period occurred in north-western Poland. On the other hand, large excesses of water were still recorded in the southern territories of the following provinces: Dolnośląskie, Opolskie, Śląskie, Małopolskie, Podkarpackie, Lubelskie and Mazowieckie.
There is still a lack of sufficient rainfall in north-western Poland, which still causes large water shortages in the soil in this area. The occurring large water deficit means that drought is noted in the provinces of Zachodniopomorskie, Pomorskie, Wielkopolskie and Lubuskie. Lesser water shortages also concern the following provinces: Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Dolnośląskie, Podlaskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Łódzkie. A slightly smaller drought was recorded in the following provinces: Opolskie, Świętokrzyskie, Mazowieckie, Podkarpackie, Śląskie, Małopolskie and Lubelskie.
The range of drought increased in relation to the previous reporting period in the following crops: maize for silage, grain maize, fruit bushes, pulses, potatoes, ground vegetables, tobacco, hops, sugar beet, fruit trees.
In the current reporting period, the greatest risk of agricultural drought occurred among maize crops for silage. Drought in these crops was recorded in 870 Polish municipalities (35.12% of the country's municipalities). Compared to the previous reporting period, there was an increase by 383 municipalities with the occurrence of drought, which is 15.46% more than in the previous reporting period.
It was recorded in all provinces on 7.91% of arable land, ie 4.71% more land than in the previous reporting period.
In the current reporting period, the risk of agricultural drought also occurred among grain maize crops. Drought in these crops was recorded in 826 Polish communes (33.35% of the country's communes). Compared to the previous reporting period, there was an increase by 358 communes with drought, ie by 14.46% more than in the previous period.
It was recorded in 15 provinces on the area of 7.18% of arable land, i.e. 4.17% more than in the previous reporting period.
In the tenth reporting period, agricultural drought was also noted in fruit shrubs. It appeared in 644 Polish communes (26.00% of the country's communes). In relation to the previous reporting period, there was an increase in communes with drought by 12.39% more than in the previous period.
It was recorded in 12 provinces on 6.99% of arable land, i.e. 4.44% more than in the previous reporting period.
An agricultural drought has been noted in the cultivation of pulses. It appeared in 540 Polish communes (21.80% of the country's communes). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of communes with droughts increased by 266, ie by 10.74% more than in the previous reporting period.
It occurred in 12 provinces on 4.33% of arable land, ie 2.72% more than in the previous reporting period.
Agricultural drought also occurred in potato crops. It was recorded in 363 communes of Poland (14.65% of the communes of the country). Compared to the previous reporting period, there was an increase by 299 communes with drought, ie by 12.07% more than in the previous reporting period.
It was recorded in 11 provinces on the area of 2.27% of arable land, ie by 2.12% more than in the previous reporting period.
Agricultural drought was recorded in field vegetable crops. It appeared in 266 communes of Poland (10.74% of the communes of the country). Compared to the previous reporting period, there was an increase by 174 communes with drought, ie by 7.03% more than in the previous period.
The drought occurred in 10 provinces on 1.28% of arable land, ie 1.01% more than in the previous reporting period.
Agricultural drought was recorded in the cultivation of tobacco, it occurred in 191 Polish communes (7.71% of the country's communes). Compared to the previous reporting period, there was an increase by 120 municipalities with the occurrence of drought, ie by 4.84% more than in the previous reporting period.
It was recorded in 9 provinces on 1.00% of arable land, ie 0.78% more than in the previous reporting period.
An agricultural drought occurred in hop cultivation. It was recorded in 190 communes in Poland (7.67% of the country's communes). In relation to the previous reporting period, there was an increase of 157 municipalities with the occurrence of drought, ie by 6.34% more than in the previous reporting period.
It was recorded in 9 provinces on the area of 0.74% of arable land.
Agricultural drought also occurred in sugar beet crops. It was recorded in 69 communes of Poland (2.79% of the communes of the country) in 6 provinces on the area of 0.41% of arable land.
Agricultural drought occurred in the cultivation of fruit trees. It was recorded in 11 Polish communes (0.44% of the country's communes).
Source: IUNG