Communication report regarding the incidences of drought conditions in Poland

The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute, in accordance with the Act of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has developed the climatic water balance values for all 2477 Polish municipalities (gminas) and, based on soil categories, calculated the current risk of agricultural drought.

In the ninth reporting period, i.e. from June 11th t° August 10th, 2020, the average of Climatic Water Balance values, which are the basis for assessing the risk of agricultural drought, was negative and equalled -40 mm. In the analysed period, it has decreased by 20 mm in relation to the previous reporting period (June 1st – July 31st) or locally even by 50 mm. In relation to the first reporting period (March 21st – May 20th), the average CWB has increased by 60 mm.

The largest water deficit, ranging from -160 to -209 mm, was still recorded in the area of Szczecin Coastland (Uznam, Wolin, the Plains: Wkrzańska, Wełtyńska, Pyrzycka, and the Bukowe Hills), where it has increased in relation to the previous reporting period (June 1st – July 31st) by 10 mm. Similar values of water deficit are recorded in the area of Żary Upland, Dalków Hills and Gdańsk Coastland. Slightly lower deficit (from -120 to -159 mm) was recorded in the Leszczyńskie Lake District and in the eastern part of the Bielsk Plain and the Baiłystok Upland. Considerrable water shortages, from -120 to -159 mm, were als° recorded in the Pomeranian and Greater Poland Lake Districts, and in the Greater Poland Lowland. In the vast areas of the country water deficit ranged from -50 to -119 mm whereas in the southern regions of Poland no crop water deficit was recorded.

Based on the current humidity conditions, IUNG-PIB states agricultural drought in the area of Poland.

Agricultural drought was stated in the following voivodeships:

• Zachodniopomorskie,
• Wielkopolskie,
• Pomorskie,
• Lubuskie,
• Warmińsko-mazurskie,
• Dolnośląskie,
• Podlaskie,
• Kujawsko-pomorskie,
• Łódzkie,
• Świętokrzyskie,
• Podkarpackie.

Agricultural drought affected the following crops:

• Maize for silage,
• Maize for grain,
• Fruit shrubs,
• Legumes,
• Ground vegetables,
• Tobacco,
• Potato,
• Hops,
• Strawberries,
• Sugar beet,
• Spring cereals,
• Winter cereals,
• Fruit trees.

In the ninth reporting period, from June 11th t° August 10th, 2020, the highest risk of agricultural drought occurred for maize for silage. Agricultural drought in this crop was recorded in 487 gminas (19.66% of all gminas in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 192, which constitutes an increase of 7.75%.

Drought in maize for silage occurred in 11 voivodeships, in the area of 3.2% of arable land (increase of 1.09%). Table 1 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in maize for silage in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 1. Agricultural drought in maize for silage

In this reporting period agricultural drought occurred also in maize for grain. It was recorded in 468 gminas in Poland (18.89% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 173, which constitutes an increase of 7.08%.

Drought in maize for grain occurred in 11 voivodeships, in the area of 3.01% of arable land (increase of 0.9%). Table 2 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in maize for grain in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 2. Agricultural drought in maize for grain

In the ninth reporting period agricultural drought affected also fruit shrubs. It was recorded in 326 gminas in Poland (13.16% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 5.17%.

Agricultural drought in fruit shrubs occurred in 11 voivodeships, in the area of 2.55% of arable land (increase of 0.68 of arable land). Table 3 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in fruit shrubs in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 3. Agricultural drought in fruit shrubs

Agricultural drought occurred in legumes as well. It was recorded in 274 gminas in Poland (11.06% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 106, i.e. by 4.48%.

Agricultural drought in legumes occurred in 10 voivodeships in the area of 1.61% of arable land (increase of 0.51%). Table 4 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in legumes in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 4. Agricultural drought in legumes

Agricultural drought occurred also in ground vegetables. It was recorded in 92 gminas in Poland (3.71% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 40, i.e. by 1.61%.

Agricultural drought in ground vegetables occurred in 7 voivodeships, in the area of 0.27% of arable land (increase of 0.1% in relation to the previous reporting period). Table 5 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in ground vegetables in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 5. Agricultural drought in ground vegetables

Agricultural drought affected also tobacco. It was recorded in 71 gminas in Poland (2.87% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 31, which constitutes an increase of 1.27%.

Agricultural drought in tobacco occurred in 7 voivodeships in the area of 0.22% of arable land, which constitutes an increase of 0.09% in relation to the previous reporting period. Table 6 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in tobacco in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 6. Agricultural drought in tobacco

Agricultural drought affected also potatoes. It was recorded in 64 gminas in Poland (2.58% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 62, which constitutes an increase of 2.5%.

Agricultural drought in potatoes occurred in 7 voivodeships in the area of 0.15% of arable land. Table 7 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in potatoes in particular voivodeships

Tab. 7. Agricultural drought in potatoes

Agricultural drought occurred in hops. It was recorded in 33 gminas in Poland (1.33% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 30, which constitutes an increase of 1.21%.

Agricultural drought in hops occurred in 6 voivodeships in the area of 0.06% of arable land. Table 8 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in hops in particular voivodeships

Tab. 8. Agricultural drought in hops

Agricultural drought occurred in strawberries as well. It was recorded in 5 gminas in Poland (0.2% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 2, i.e. by 0.08%.

Agricultural drought in strawberries occurred in 2 voivodeships. Table 9 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in strawberries in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 9. Agricultural drought in strawberries

Agricultural drought affected also sugar beets. It was recorded in 2 gminas in Poland (0.08% of all gminas in the country), in 1 voivodeship. Table 10 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in sugar beets.

Tab. 10. Agricultural drought in sugar beets

In the current reporting period agricultural drought affected also spring cereals. It was recorded in 2 gminas in Poland (0.08% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 38, which constitutes a decrease of 1.53%.

Agricultural drought in spring cereals occurred in 1 voivodeship. Table 11 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in spring cereals.

Tab. 11. Agricultural drought in spring cereals

Agricultural drought occurred also in winter cereals. It was recorded in 2 gminas in Poland (0.08% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 1, i.e. by 0.04%.

Agricultural drought in winter cereals occurred in 1 voivodeships, Table 12 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in winter cereals.

Tab. 12. Agricultural drought in winter cereals

Agricultural drought occurred also in fruit trees. It was recorded in 2 gminas in Poland (0.08% of all gminas in the country). Table 13 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in fruit trees.

Tab. 13. Agricultural drought in fruit trees

In the second decade of June, the highest temperatures (from 19.5 to more than 20.5°C) were recorded in the vast area of Central Poland. In the south and north of the country, it was colder, from below 16 to 19.5°C. The third decade of the month was the warmest in the eastern regions, with temperatures ranging from 20 to more than 20.5°C. In the majority of areas, the recorded temperatures ranged from 19 to 20°C. The lowest recorded temperatures occurred in the southwestern part of Poland: 16-19°C.

The first and third decade of July were highly diversified in terms of temperature distribution, with lower temperatures in the north (16-18.5°C) and higher in the south (18.5°C to more than 20°C). In the second decade of the month, the lowest temperatures were recorded in the south of Poland, reaching up to 16.5°C. The highest values exceeding 18°C were recorded in Lubuskie voivodeship, in Masovia and the Greater Poland Lake District.

The first decade of August was warm. In the north and south of Poland temperatures ranged from 18 to 20°C, while in the rest of the country even 20-22°C.

In June, precipitation was intense in vast areas of the country, ranging from 60 to more than 240m, which constituted from 100 to even more than 300% of the multiannual norm. Only in the northwestern part of the country precipitation was less intense, from 30 to 60 mm (50-100% of the norm).

In the first decade of July precipitation was highly diversified as well: small but numerous areas with heavy storms and rainfalls ranging from 20 to 50 mm occurred throughout Poland, accompanied by scarce precipitation (up to 10 mm) in southwestern regions of the country. In the second decade of the month the highest precipitation values ranging from 30 to more than 100 mm were recorded in the south of the country, and in the Iława and Chełmno-Dobrzyń Lake Districts. The lowest precipitation values, below 15 mm, were recorded in the Lubusz Land, Szczecin Lowland, Gdańsk Lake District, eastern part of the Masurian Lake District and Podlasie Lowland. In the third decade of the month, in the vast majority of the country, precipitation reached up to 10 mm or no precipitation occurred. Small-range stormy rainfalls occurred only in scattered locations, reaching from 10 to 35 mm.

In the first decade of August, the lowest precipitation values were recorded in the northwestern and southeastern parts of Poland, ranging from 5 to 15 mm, or even no precipitation occurred. In the rest of the country, precipitation was more intense, from 15 to more than 50 mm.

The largest crop water deficit in the period of June 11th – August 10th was recorded in the northern, northwestern, western and southeastern Poland.

Intense precipitation in the vast areas of the country occurring throughout the period under consideration (especially at the beginning) resulted in a reduction of water deficit.

Particularly hihgh CWB values were recorded in the south of Poland. Considerable excess of water is still recorded in the southern parts of following voivodeships: Dolnośląskie, Opolskie, Śląskie, Małopolskie, Podkarpackie, Lubelskie and Mazowieckie.

The area affected by agricultural drought has decreased in relation to the previous reporting period in the following crops:

• Spring cereals,
• Winter cereals.

In case of the above crops, the number of gminas and the percentage of the potential area of arable land affected by agricultural drought have decreased as well.

In the same time, the range of agricultural drought has grown for the following crops:

• maize for grain,
• maize for silage,
• fruit shrubs,
• legumes,
• ground vegetables,
• tobacco,
• potato,
• hops,
• strawberries.

The growing water scarcity in the northern and western regions of Poland results from a constant lack of sufficient precipitation, which leads to considerable water deficit in soil. Due to a constant water shortage, agricultural drought is still recorded in the following voivodeships: Zachodniopomorskie, Wielkopolskie, Pomorskie and Lubuskie. To a lesser extent, water deficit is also affecting crops in Warmińsko-mazurskie and Dolnośląskie,

Executive Director

Prof. dr hab. Wiesław Oleszek

Report prepared by: Dr hab. Andrzej Doroszewski, prof. IUNG-PIB, Dr hab. Rafał Pudełko, Dr Katarzyna Żyłowska, Dr Jan Jadczyszyn, Mgr Piotr Koza, Mgr Elżbieta Wróblewska, Mgr Agata Ścibior