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 calculated the climatic water balance values for all 2477 Polish municipalities (gminas) and, based on soil categories, assessed the current risk of agricultural drought.

In the first reporting period, i.e. from March 21st to May 20th, 2022, the average value of Climatic Water Balance (CWB), which is the basis for assessing the risk of agricultural drought, was negative and equalled -88 mm.

Water deficit for agricultural crops was recorded across all the country. The highest water deficit, ranging from -160 to -179 mm occurred in the area of the Vistula Fens.

Slightly less severe water shortages, from -120 to -159 mm, were recorded in the vast area of the country, in the regions such as the Lake Districts: Pomeranian, Slovincian, Greater Poland, and Masurian, in the Greater Poland Lowland, the northern parts of the Lowlands: Masovian, Silesian, and Podlasie, and in Western Polesie. The further from these areas to the southeast, the less severe was the water deficit: from -119 mm in northern regions to -50 mm in the south.

Based on the humidity conditions in the first reporting period, IUNG-PIB states the occurrence of agricultural drought in the area of Poland.

Below is presented the occurrence of agricultural drought in the area of Poland, resulting in yield reduction by at least 20% at municipality level in relation to the yield obtained in the multiannual average weather conditions.

Agricultural drought occurred in the following voivodeships:

Agricultural drought occurred in four crops:

• Spring cereals,
• Winter cereals,
• Strawberries,
• Fruit shrubs.

In the first reporting period, from March 21st to May 20th, 2022, agricultural drought affected spring cereals the most. Drought was recorded in 1262 municipalities (50.95% of all municipalities in Poland) in the area of 22.31% of arable land. Detailed data on drought occurrence in spring cereals in particular voivodeships are presented in table 1.

Table 1. Agricultural drought in spring cereals

Agricultural drought also occurred in winter cereals. It was recorded in 1148 municipalities (46.35% of all municipalities in Poland), in the area of 14.89% of arable land. Detailed data on drought occurrence in winter cereals in particular voivodeships are presented in table 2.

Table 2. Agricultural drought in winter cereals

Agricultural drought was also recorded in strawberries. It occurred in 1039 municipalities (41.95% of all municipalities in Poland), in the area of 13.65% of arable land. Detailed data on drought occurrence in strawberries in particular voivodeships are presented in table 3.

Table 3. Agricultural drought in strawberries

Agricultural drought affected fruit shrubs as well. It was recorded in 394 municipalities (15.91% of all municipalities in Poland), in the area of 2.42% of arable land. Detailed data on drought occurrence in fruit shrubs in particular voivodeships are presented in table 4.

Table 4. Agricultural drought in fruit shrubs

In March, air temperature in Poland remained within the multiannual norm (1990-2021). In the west, it was the warmest – more than 6°C, and the further to the northeast the lower was the temperature. In the vast area of the country, it ranged from 3 to 5°C. In the eastern regions temperature values ranged from 2 to 3°C, whilst in the north-eastern ends from 0 to 2°C.

March this year was also characterised by a high number of sunny days. The highest sunshine duration was recorded in the north of Poland (more than 260 hours of sunshine), but a high number of sunny hours was recorded in all the western part of the country, ranging from 240 to 260 h. In the eastern regions of Poland the number of sunny days was also high, reaching values between 200 and 240 hours per month. Sunshine duration in March this year exceeded the multiannual norm by 80 (in the southeastern regions) to even more than 140 hours in the north of the country.

This year’s April was cold, in the eastern and northern parts of Poland temperatures ranged from 4 to 7°C, only to the west it was slightly warmer, from 7 to 8°C. In more than half of the territory: south, southeast, and east of Poland the temperatures were lower than multiannual norm by 2-3°C, and in the rest of the country by 1-2°C.

In May, the temperature was highly diversified. The highest values were recorded in the south and southwestern regions of Poland, exceeding 14°C in the first decade and ranging from 15 to 16°C in the second decade of the month. To the north, the temperature was lower, ranging from 12.5 to 14°C in the first decade, and from 12 to 15°C in the second. The further to the northeast, the lower it became, eventually reaching 9-11°C.

The second decade of May was characterised by high sunshine duration in the south of Poland, reaching from 105 to more than 120 hours. In the northern part of the country, sunshine duration was lower, from 75 to 105 hours, with the exception of the coastline, where it ranged from 100 to 115 hours with the sun.

In March, precipitation was very scarce across the country (up to 10 mm), and in the north of Poland there were areas with no rainfall recorded. In this area precipitation constituted from 0 to 20% of the multiannual norm. In the south of the country, precipitation was also scarce, from 10 to 30 mm (20-60% of the norm). Only in the south and southeastern regions of Poland, precipitation values were slightly higher, ranging from 30 to 50 mm (60 to 80% of the norm).

April was highly diversified in terms of precipitation. In the eastern parts of the country, precipitation reached 40-60 mm and remained within the multiannual norm, or even exceeded it by 30%. In the majority of areas, precipitation values ranged from 20 to 40 mm, and in the north of Poland constituted 30 to 100% of the norm, whilst in the west from 100 to 130%.

In the first decade of May, precipitation in the whole country was very scarce, below 5 mm, and only in some areas exceeded 20 mm.In the second decade of the month, the south of Poland was still suffering lack of precipitation. In the area of the Greater Poland Upland, however, precipitation values were higher, ranging from 10 to 35 mm, whilst in the Masurian Lake District they reached from 10 to 25 mm. In the rest of the country, precipitation ranged from 5 to 10 mm.

High water deficit for agricultural crops was recorded across the country, reaching from -50 to -179 mm. Due to the weather conditions in spring, characterised by high sunshine duration as well as high wind speed, yield losses resulting from water deficit were recorded in 14 voivodeships. Only Małopolskie and Podkarpackie voivodeships were not affected by agricultural drought.

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 Anna Jędrejek, Mgr Małgorzata Kozak, Adrian Matczuk, Mgr Beata Murat, Mgr Agata Ścibior