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 tenth reporting period, i.e. from June 21st t° August 20th, 2020, the average of Climatic Water Balance values, which are the basis for assessing the risk of agricultural drought, was negative and equalled -79 mm. In the analysed period, it has decreased by 39 mm in relation to the previous reporting period (June 11th – August 10th) but in relation to the first reporting period (March 21st – May 20th), the average CWB has increased by 21 mm.

The largest water deficit, ranging from -160 to -219 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 11th – August 10th) by 20 mm. Similar values of water deficit are recorded in the area of Kashubian Coastland and Żuławy Wiślane. Considerable water shortages, from -160 to -209 mm, were also recorded in the Pomeranian and Greater Poland Lake Districts, in the Greater Poland Lowland and the western part of the Silesian Lowland. In the vast areas of the country water deficit ranged from -50 to -159 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,
• Pomorskie,
• Wielkopolskie,
• Lubuskie,
• Warmińsko-mazurskie,
• Dolnośląskie,
• Podlaskie,
• Kujawsko-pomorskie,
• Łódzkie,
• Opolskie,
• Świętokrzyskie,
• Mazowieckie,
• Podkarpackie,
• Śląskie,
• Małopolskie,
• Lubelskie.

Agricultural drought affected the following crops:

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

In the tenth reporting period, from June 21st t° August 20th, 2020, the highest risk of agricultural drought occurred for maize for silage. Agricultural drought in this crop was recorded in 870 gminas (35.12% of all gminas in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 383, which constitutes an increase of 15.46%.

Drought in maize for silage occurred in all voivodeships, in the area of 7.91% of arable land (increase of 4.71%). 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 826 gminas in Poland (33.35% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 358, which constitutes an increase of 14.46%.

Drought in maize for grain occurred in 15 voivodeships, in the area of 7.18% of arable land (increase of 4.17%). 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 tenth reporting period agricultural drought affected also fruit shrubs. It was recorded in 644 gminas in Poland (26.00% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 12.39%.

Agricultural drought in fruit shrubs occurred in 12 voivodeships, in the area of 6.99% of arable land (increase of 4.44 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 540 gminas in Poland (21.80% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 266, i.e. by 10.74%.

Agricultural drought in legumes occurred in 12 voivodeships in the area of 4.33% of arable land (increase of 2.72%). Table 4 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in legumes in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 4. Agricultural drought in legumes

Agricultural drought affected also potatoes. It was recorded in 363 gminas in Poland (14.65% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 299, which constitutes an increase of 12.07%.

Agricultural drought in potatoes occurred in 11 voivodeships in the area of 2.27% of arable land (increase of 2.12 of arable land). Table 5 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in potatoes in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 5. Agricultural drought in potatoes

Agricultural drought occurred also in ground vegetables. It was recorded in 266 gminas in Poland (10.74% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 174, i.e. by 7.03%.

Agricultural drought in ground vegetables occurred in 10 voivodeships, in the area of 1.28% of arable land (increase of 1.01% in relation to the previous reporting period). Table 6 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in ground vegetables in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 6. Agricultural drought in ground vegetables

Agricultural drought affected also tobacco. It was recorded in 191 gminas in Poland (7.71% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 120, which constitutes an increase of 4.84%.

Agricultural drought in tobacco occurred in 9 voivodeships in the area of 1.00% of arable land, which constitutes an increase of 0.78% in relation to the previous reporting period. Table 7 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in tobacco in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 7. Agricultural drought in tobacco

Agricultural drought occurred in hops. It was recorded in 190 gminas in Poland (7.67% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has increased by 157, which constitutes an increase of 6.34%.

Agricultural drought in hops occurred in 9 voivodeships in the area of 0.74% of arable land. Table 8 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in hops in particular voivodeships

Tab. 8. Agricultural drought in hops

Agricultural drought affected also sugar beets. It was recorded in 69 gminas in Poland (2.79% of all gminas in the country), in 6 voivodeships, in the area of 0.41% of arable land. Table 9 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in sugar beets.

Tab. 9. Agricultural drought in sugar beets

Agricultural drought occurred also in fruit trees. It was recorded in 11 gminas in Poland (0.44% of all gminas in the country). Table 10 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in fruit trees.

Tab. 10. Agricultural drought in fruit trees

In the third decade of the month, it 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 temperatures occurred in the southwestern part of Poland: 16-19°C.

July, on the other hand, was quite cool this year, especially in the northwestern and some southern parts of the country, where temperatures were ca. 0.5°C lower than the multiannual norm. In the rest of the country temperatures remained within the norm. The highest values were recorded in the south and southwest of Poland, exceeding 19°C. In the majority of areas, temperatures ranged from 17 to 19°C, only in the north it was slightly colder, 15-16°C.

The first and second decade of August were warm. In the first decade, in the north and south of Poland temperatures ranged from 18 to 20°C, same as in the second decade in the east. In the rest of Poland temperatures ranged from 20 to 22°C.

In June, in the third decade precipitation was intense or very intense in vast areas of the country, ranging from 15 to more than 100 mm.

In July, precipitation varied across the country. Particularly scarce precipitation, below 30 mm, occurred in the southwestern and northeastern regions and constituted below 40% of the multiannual norm. Whereas the highest precipitation values (above 150 mm) were recorded in the south of Poland, and slightly lower values, from 60 to 90 mm, in the north, constituting 90-110% of the norm. In the majority of areas precipitation ranged from 30 to 60 mm (40-90% of the norm).

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 between those areas, precipitation was more intense, from 15 to 50 mm. In the second decade of the month, in the north of Poland precipitation was very scarce (up to 5mm) or none, whereas in the south precipitation values were higher, from 5 to more than 50 mm, but areas with no precipitation occurred as well.

Lack of precipitation accompanied by high air temperature resulted in the increase of water deficit, in some areas even by more than 50 mm. The largest crop water deficit in the period of June 21st - August 20th occurred in the northwestern parts of Poland. Whereas considerable excess of water was still recorded in the southern regions of the voivodeships: D°lnośląskie, Opolskie, Śląskie, Małopolskie, Podkarpackie, Lubelskie and Mazowieckie.

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

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

Lack of sufficient precipitation is still recorded in the northwestern part of Poland, leading to a considerable water deficit in that area. Due to that fact, agricultural drought is stated in the following voivodeships: Zachodniopomorskie, Pomorskie, Wielkopolskie and Lubuskie. To a lesser extent, water deficit is also affecting crops in: Warmińsko-mazurskie, Dolnośląskie, Podlaskie, Kujawsko-pomorskie and Łódzkie voivodeships. Agricultural drought is also recorded, but with a lesser impact, in the voivodeships: Opolskie, Świętokrzyskie, Mazowieckie, Podkarpackie, Śląskie, Małopolskie and Lubelskie.

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