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 twelfth reporting period, i.e. from July 11th t° September 10th, 2022, the average value of Climatic Water Balance (CWB), which is the basis for assessing the risk of agricultural drought, was negative and equalled -79 mm. In the current sixty-day reporting period, the average CWB value has decreased in relation to the previous reporting period (July 1st – August 31st) by 2 mm.

Water deficit for agricultural crops was recorded across the country.

The highest water deficit, ranging from -160 to -189 mm, occurred in the Slovincian Coast and in the Greater Poland Lake District. In the central part of the Masurian Lake District, in the Pomeranian Lake District, as well as in the Sandomierz Basin, water shortages were also significant, ranging from -160 to -179 mm. Slightly less severe deficit, from -120 to -159 mm, was recorded in the Grater Poland Lowland, the Masovian Lowland, and the Lublin Upland. In the vast area of the country, water deficit ranged from 0 to -119 mm.

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

Agricultural drought occurred in eight voivodeships.

Agricultural drought was recorded in eight of the monitored crops:

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

In the twelfth reporting period, from July 11th to September 10th, 2022, agricultural drought affected maize for silage the most. Drought was recorded in 225 municipalities (9.08% of all municipalities in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period (July 1st to August 31st, 2022), the number of municipalities affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 2.95%.

Agricultural drought was recorded in the area of 1.14% of arable land, which is 0.66% less than in the previous reporting period.

Detailed data on drought occurrence in maize for silage in particular voivodeships are presented in table 1.

Table 1. Agricultural drought in maize for silage

In the twelfth reporting period, agricultural drought considerably affected also maize for grain. It was recorded in 186 municipalities (7.51% of all municipalities in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of municipalities affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 3.31%.

Agricultural drought was recorded in the area of 0.92% of arable land, which is 0.51% less than in the previous reporting period.

Detailed data on drought occurrence in maize for grain in particular voivodeships are presented in table 2.

Table 2. Agricultural drought in maize for grain

Agricultural drought occurred in fruit shrubs as well. It was recorded in 200 municipalities (8.07% of all municipalities in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of municipalities affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 0.77%.

Agricultural drought was recorded in the area of 1.20% of arable land, which is 0.20% less than in the previous reporting period.

Detailed data on drought occurrence in fruit shrubs in particular voivodeships are presented in table 3.

Table 3. Agricultural drought in fruit shrubs

Agricultural drought was also recorded in potatoes. It was recorded in 200 municipalities (8.07% of all municipalities in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of municipalities affected by agricultural drought has increased by 3.02%.

Agricultural drought was recorded in the area of 1.12% of arable land, which is 0.51% more than in the previous reporting period.

Detailed data on drought occurrence in potatoes in particular voivodeships are presented in table 4.

Table 4. Agricultural drought in potatoes

Agricultural drought also occurred in legumes. It was recorded in 59 municipalities (2.38% of all municipalities in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of municipalities affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 1.82%.

Agricultural drought was recorded in the area of 0.14% of arable land, which is 0.33% less than in the previous reporting period.

Detailed data on drought occurrence in legumes in particular voivodeships are presented in table 5.

Table 5. Agricultural drought in legumes

In this reporting period, agricultural drought was also recorded in sugar beets. It occurred in 10 municipalities (0.40% of all municipalities in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of municipalities affected by agricultural drought has increased by 0.24%.

Agricultural drought was recorded in the area of 0.02% of arable land, which is 0.01% more than in the previous reporting period.

Detailed data on drought occurrence in sugar beets in particular voivodeships are presented in table 6.

Table 6. Agricultural drought in sugar beets

Agricultural drought also occurred in hops. It was recorded in 9 municipalities (0.36% of all municipalities in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of municipalities affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 0.61%.

Agricultural drought was recorded in the area of 0.01% of arable land, which is 0.06% less than in the previous reporting period.

Detailed data on drought occurrence in hops in particular voivodeships are presented in table 7.

Table 7. Agricultural drought in hops

Agricultural drought affected ground vegetables as well. It was recorded in 1 municipality (0.04% of all municipalities in Poland). In relation to the previous reporting period, the number of municipalities affected by agricultural drought has decreased by 0.77% and the area of affected arable land has decreased by 0.06%.

Detailed data on drought occurrence in ground vegetables in particular voivodeships are presented in table 8.

Table 8. Agricultural drought in ground vegetables

In July, the lowest temperatures occurred in the north of Poland, ranging from 16 to 18°C. The further to the south, the higher was the temperature, ranging from 18 to 20°C. The highest temperature in July was recorded in the Silesian Lowland, where it exceeded 20°C.

In August, the highest temperatures were recorded in the Greater Poland Lake District and the Greater Poland Lowland, in the southwestern part of the Masurian Lake District and in the northern part of the Masovian Lowland, ranging from 21 to 22.5°C. In this area, temperatures exceeded the multiannual norm of 1991-2020 by 2.5 to 3.5°C. In the rest of the country temperatures ranged from 19 to 21°C and exceeded the multiannual norm by 1 to 2.5°C.

In the first decade of September, it was still warm in the southwestern part of the country, with temperatures ranging from 14.5 to 17.5°C. The further to the northeast, the lower temperatures were recorded. In the Podlasie Lowland and in the eastern regions of the Masurian Lake District, temperature reached only 9.5°C.

In July, the lowest values of insolation were recorded in the northeastern part of the country, from 200 to 240 hours. The further to the south and southwest especially, the higher was that number, reaching from 240 to 260 hours.

In August, the highest insolation was recorded in the northern and eastern Poland, ranging from 260 to 290 hours, and exceeding the norm by 10-50 hours. Especially high insolation was recorded in the Podlasie Lowland, in the northern part of Lublin Polesie, and in the western part of the Slovincian Coast, from 280 to 290 hours.

In the first decade of September, the highest insolation was recorded in the southern part of the Masovian Lowland, in the eastern part of the Greater Poland Lake District and the Greater Poland Lowland, in the Szczecin Lowland and in Lublin Polesie, where it ranged from 85 to 95 hours. In the rest of the country, the number of sunshine hours ranged from 60 to 85.

In July, low precipitation was recorded in the west of Poland, ranging from 30 to 70 mm and constituting 30-90% of the multiannual norm. In the rest of the country, precipitation was more intense and ranged from 70 to 110 mm (80-110% of the norm), and in the eastern and southern parts of the country, it reached even 130 mm (110-150% of the norm).

In August, in the northern, northeastern and eastern parts of Poland, precipitation ranged from 30 to 60 mm (20-100% of the multiannual norm). Whilst in the southwestern regions of the country, precipitation was considerably higher, ranging from 60 to even 210 mm (in the Sudeten Foothills) and constituted 100-200% of the norm.

In the first decade of September, precipitation was also intense, ranging from 35 to 75 mm in the area of the Silesian and the Kraków-Częstochowa Uplands. Only slightly lower values, from 35 to 70 mm, were recorded in the Silesian, Greater Poland and Podlasie Lowlands and in the eastern part of the Lublin Upland. In the rest of the country, precipitation was lower and ranged from 5 to 35 mm.

Both in the first and in the second agricultural drought reporting period, relatively low evapotranspiration values were recorded, namely, 2.5 mm/day. Due to higher precipitation values recorded in the second and third decade of May, water deficit decreased in relation to the first reporting period. In the third report, however, evapotranspiration increased to the value of 2.9 mm/day, in the fourth report to 3.3 mm/day, in the fifth to 3.8 mm/day, in both the sixth and seventh report it reached the value of 3.9 mm/day, in the eighth and tenth equalled 4.1 mm/day, whilst in the ninth 4.2 mm/day. In the eleventh reporting period, on the other hand, evapotranspiration has decreased to the value of 3.6 mm/day, and in the twelfth to 3.5 mm.

We would like to inform that in accordance with the definition included in the Act of 7 July 2005 on insurance of agricultural crops and livestock (Journal of Laws No. 150, item 1249, as amended): “drought” means damage caused by the occurrence, in any sixty-day period from March 21st to September 30th, of a decline in the climatic water balance below the value specified for each crop species and soil type”. Thus, occurrence of drought in whichever sixty-day reporting period causes yield reduction by at least 20% at municipality level in relation to the yield obtained in the multiannual average weather conditions.

In this year's growing season, from March 21st t° September 10th, twelfth agricultural drought monitoring reports have been prepared. During this reporting period, water shortages reducing yield by at least 20% compared to the yield obtained in average weather conditions were recorded for the following crops:

• Spring cereals,
• Winter cereals,
• Fruit shrubs,
• Rapeseed and turnip rape,
• Strawberries,
• Maize for silage,
• Maize for grain,
• Legumes,
• Ground vegetables,
• Tobacco,
• Potatoes,
• Fruit trees,
• Hops,
• Sugar beet.

The occurrence of such yield losses in the country in the period of March 21st – September 10th, 2022, is presented in table 9.

Table 9. Agricultural drought in Poland in the period of March 21st - September 10th, 2022.

Detailed data on yield losses incurred in particular voivodeships presented using maps and tables are available on the website of the Agricultural Drought Monitoring System at: www.susza.iung.pulawy.pl, where you can select:

Drought risk maps \ Select crop \ Select period – in the case of period, the “Maximum range” option should be selected in order to obtain the following information on drought occurrence:

• number of affected municipalities,
• share of affected municipalities,
• share of the acreage affected by drought

in a selected voivodeship. The presented data is the sum of all municipalities and areas affected by drought from the beginning of the monitoring period (from March 21st) in a given year up to the current report. We would like to emphasize that only the maximum range is the most reliable for indication of drought occurrence at the level of the country, voivodeship, municipality and cadastral parcels.

This year’s weather conditions, considering:

• high insolation (3rd decade of March, 1st and 2nd decade of May, and 3rd decade of June).
• high wind speed (1st decade of April, 3rd decade of May).
• low air humidity (3rd decade of March, 1st and 2nd decade of May, and 3rd decade of June).
• high air temperature (June).
• low precipitation (2nd decade of March, 3rd decade of April, 1st and 2nd decade of May, 3rd decade of June, 2nd decade of July, and 1st decade of August)
• high precipitation in July, 2nd and 3rd decade of August, and 1st decade of September
• high potential evapotranspiration (3rd decade of July, and 1st and 2nd decade of August)

have led to a high water deficit for all the monitored crops across the country, resulting in yield losses due to water shortage in all the monitored crops in Poland.

In the current monitoring period, the scope of agricultural drought has decreased significantly for the following crops: maize for grain and for silage, ground vegetables, fruit shrubs, legumes, and hops. On the other hand, it has increased for potatoes and sugar beets. In the current reporting period, agricultural drought has occurred in eight voivodeships in Poland.

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