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 twelfth reporting period, i.e. from July 11th t° September 10th, 2020, the average of Climatic Water Balance values, which are the basis for assessing the risk of agricultural drought, was negative and equalled -56 mm. In the analysed period, it has increased by 23 mm in relation to the previous reporting period (July 1st – August 31st) and by 47 mm in relation to the first period (March 21st – May 20th).

The largest water deficit, ranging from -130 to -179 mm, was recorded in the area of the Gryfice Plain, the Łobez Upland, the Poznań Lake District, the Ina Lake District, and in the Milicz Basin. Considerable water shortages, from -130 to -159 mm, were also recorded in Żuławy, the Mrągowo Lake District, the Great Masurian Lakes, the Bielsko Plain, the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, and the Uplands: Drohiczyn, Siedlce and Łask.

In the vast area of the country, the recorded water deficit ranged from -50 to -119 mm.

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

Agricultural drought was stated in the following voivodeships:

• Wielkopolskie,
• Opolskie,
• Świętokrzyskie,
• Zachodniopomorskie,
• Mazowieckie
• Łódzkie,
• Lubuskie,
• Pomorskie,
• Lubelskie.

Agricultural drought affected the following crops:

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

In relation to the previous reporting period (July 1st - August 31st), the area affected by agricultural drought has decreased for:

• Maize for silage,
• Maize for grain,
• Legumes,
• Potato,
• Ground vegetables,
• Hops,
• Sugar beet.

In the twelfth reporting period, from July 11th to September 10th 2020, the highest risk of agricultural drought occurred for maize for silage. Agricultural drought in this crop was recorded in 70 gminas (2.83% of all gminas in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 370, which constitutes a decrease of 14.93%.

Drought in maize for silage occurred in 9 voivodeships, in the area of 0.15% of arable land (decrease of 1.5%). Table 1 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in maize for silage in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 1. Agricultural drought in maize for silage

In the twelfth reporting period agricultural drought affected also fruit shrubs. It was recorded in 56 gminas in Poland (2.26% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 220, which constitutes a decrease of 8.88%.

Agricultural drought in fruit shrubs occurred in 9 voivodeships, in the area of 0.13% of arable land (decrease of 6.00%). Table 2 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in fruit shrubs in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 2. Agricultural drought in fruit shrubs

Agricultural drought affected also potatoes. It was recorded in 56 gminas in Poland (2.26% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 72, which constitutes a decrease of 2.91%.

Agricultural drought in potatoes occurred in 9 voivodeships in the area of 0.13% of arable land (decrease of 0.26 of arable land). Table 3 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in potatoes in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 3. Agricultural drought in potatoes

In this reporting period agricultural drought occurred also in maize for grain. It was recorded in 48 gminas in Poland (1.94% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 310, which constitutes a decrease of 12.51%.

Drought in maize for grain occurred in 8 voivodeships, in the area of 0.1% of arable land (decrease of 1.16%). Table 4 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in maize for grain in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 4. Agricultural drought in maize for grain

Agricultural drought occurred in legumes as well. It was recorded in 10 gminas in Poland (0.4% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 95, i.e. by 3.84%.

Agricultural drought in legumes occurred in 5 voivodeships in the area of 0.1% of arable land (decrease of 0.29%). Table 5 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in legumes in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 5. Agricultural drought in legumes

Agricultural drought affected also sugar beets. It was recorded in 3 gminas in Poland (0.12% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 4, i.e. by 0.16%.

Table 6 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in sugar beets.

Tab. 6. Agricultural drought in sugar beets

Agricultural drought occurred in hops. It was recorded in 3 gminas in Poland (0.12% of all gminas in the country). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of gminas affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 8, which constitutes a decrease of 0.32%.

Table 7 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in hops in particular voivodeships

Tab. 7. Agricultural drought in hops

Agricultural drought occurred also in ground vegetables. 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 8, i.e. by 0.32%.

Agricultural drought in ground vegetables occurred in the area of 0.02% of arable land (decrease of 1.26% in relation to the previous reporting period). Table 8 presents detailed data on drought occurrence in ground vegetables in particular voivodeships.

Tab. 8. Agricultural drought in ground vegetables

July was relatively 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 the third decade temperature, the highest temperature ranging from 18.5 to more than 20.5°C occurred in the south of Poland, while in the northern and northeastern regions it ranged from 16.5 to 18°C. The lowest temperatures, below 16°C, were recorded in the region of the Western Sudetes.

In the first decade of September, it was quite cold in the north of Poland, where temperatures ranged from 13 to 15°C. It was the warmest in the Silesian Lowland, with temperatures from 15.5 to more than 16°C. In the rest of the country temperatures ranged from 15 to 15.5°C.

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. In the third decade of August, the highest precipitation values were recorded in the Masovian and Podlasie Lowlands, and in the Slovincian Coastland, ranging from 50 to more than 75 mm. In the region of the Lesser Poland Upland and the Sandomierz Basin precipitation was the lowest, ranging from 25 mm to 35 mm. In the rest of the country precipitation ranged from 35 to 50 mm.

In the first decade of September, the lowest precipitation was recorded in the Lubusz Land, ranging from 5 to 10 mm. Slightly higher values, from 5 to 20 mm, were recorded in the southern part of the Masovian and Podlasie Lowlands, in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and on the northern part of the Masurian Lake District. In the rest of the country, precipitation was more intense, ranging from 20 to more than 50 mm.

The recent precipitation resulted in a considerable decrease of the area affected by agricultural drought. However, water deficit in soil still occurs in some regions of Poland. Due to that fact, agricultural drought is stated in Wielkopolskie voivodeship, and, to a lesser extent, in Opolskie, Świętokrzyskie, Zachodniopomorskie, Mazowieckie, Łódzkie, Lubuskie, Dolnośląskie, Pomorskie 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