ADMS

The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute Puławy, in accordance with the requirements of the Polish law, has developed the climatic water balance for all of Poland (3,064 local districts) based on the soil categories identified in those local districts, the current state of agricultural drought risk has been accessed for the following crops: winter and spring cereals, grain and silage maize, potatoes, sugar beet, hops, tobacco, vegetables, shrubs and fruit trees, strawberries and plants legumes.

In the seventh reporting period from 1 June to 31 July 2012, we have not stated an agricultural drought occurrence in Poland. The value of climatic water balance (CWB), on the basis of which the drought risk assessment is calculated was negative; however, these values for those crops are slightly higher than the critical value.

The lowest values of CWB, from -100 to -119 mm (as 10 days ago), occurred at Wzniesieniach Południowomazowieckich, in the southern parts of the Południowopodlaskiej Lowlands and Western Polesie regions. There were no positive values of the CWB in the country.

In June, the lowest rainfall occurred in the Szczecin Lowlands, south of Mazowsze, and the Śląsko-Krakowska Uplands and in the Lublin Uplands (from 60 to 90 mm). The highest rainfall was recorded in the Masury and Południowopomorskie Lake Districts, as well as the Podlasie, Carpathian and Wzniesieniach Zielonogórskich regions (110 do160 mm). In Kujawy, the rainfall was higher than normal (average 1971-2000) by 160-180%, and in the rest of the country were within normal values.

In July, Poland was very diverse in terms of precipitation.

The lowest rainfall occurred in the areas of south-eastern Poland, in the Krakowsko-Częstochowska Uplands, Śląska and Południowowielkopolskiej Lowlands (from 40 to 75 mm). Whilst the highest rainfall in July was recorded in south-western part of Poland in Warmia and Mazury, on the coast and in the Bieszczady Mountains (120-250 mm).

All the sixty day period was full of significant precipitation. The lowest values of rainfall were recorded in the south-eastern area of Poland, on the Południowomazowieckich hills, the Krakowsko-Częstochowska Uplands, Śląska and Południowowielkopolskiej Lowlands (from 110 to 170 mm). Whilst the highest rainfall was recorded in south-western area of Poland in the Warmia and Mazury, on the East Coast and in the Bieszczady Mountains (210-350 mm).

In terms of temperature, Poland in June was very diverse, from cold areas in the north, where temperatures ranged from 14 to 15°C to warm regions in the south of the country, where the temperature was from 18 to 18.5°C. In the Carpathian, Małopolska, and Śląsk regions, the average air temperature was higher than the long-term average (1971-2000) by more than 2°C. In the belt of Lublin, through to southern Mazowsze, Dolny Śląsk, and Opole region, the temperature in June was higher than norm by 1-2°C. The temperature was within the norm in the rest of the country for June.

In July there were also very large variations in air temperatures and sunshine duration in Poland. The lowest temperature were recorded in the north (17-18°C) and highest in south-eastern Poland (20.5-21.5°C). A very similar distribution was found in terms of sunshine; the north-west had an average of only 6-7 hours per day, whilst in the south-east up to 10 hours.

Throughout the sixty day period, the highest evapotranspiration occurred in the south of Mazowsze, the Śląsko-Krakowska Uplands and the Lublin Uplands, whilst the lowest on the Szczecin Coastland and in a wide belt of the northern Poland (175-210 mm).

Still, as in the previous sixty day period, south of Mazowsze, the Śląsko-Krakowska and Lublin Uplands, rainfall was the lowest and with the highest evapotranspiration, which resulted in the largest deficit of water for crops recorded in these areas. However, in these regions there was an observed negative water balance which did not raise an agricultural drought, but could have resulted in yield losses greater than 20%.

For crops, the relevant period was considered as favourable in terms of humidity, because there are no areas with excess water, whilst a small deficit does not adversely affect the course of vegetation.