ADMS

The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute in accordance with an Act from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has developed the climatic water balance for all Polish municipalities (3,064 municipalities), and based on the soils categories have identified in those municipalities the current agricultural drought risk for the following crops: winter and spring cereals, corn for grain and silage, sugar beets, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, tobacco, field vegetables, shrubs and fruit trees, strawberries and legumes.

In the fourth reporting period, i.e. from May 1 to June 300, 2013, IUNG-PIB does not state a risk of agricultural drought in Poland. The values of climatic water balance (CWB), which are the basis to assess the risk of drought in most areas, are negative, but these values for the above-mentioned crops are much higher than the critical value.

The lowest CWB values from -100 to 109 occurred in Żuławy Wiślane and in the north parts of Poland. Whereas, the further south, the values were becoming more and more increased, reaching in the Western Beskid Mountains surplus, ranging from 130 to 180 mm.

CWB values, relative to the situation of the prior 10 days in the country increased by an average of 35 mm, which means that the current excess water to plants is smaller.

Across the country, there was no reduction in the CWB during the relevant sixty days period. However, a large increase in the CWB (over 50 mm) occurred over a very large area of the country. Particularly strong growth, up to 90 mm was recorded in the southern parts of the Poland.

May this year in terms of thermal conditions was varied. The highest air temperature occurred in eastern Poland, reaching more than 16°C, the farther west it was. On the western edge of the country, the air temperature was 12-13°C. In most parts of the country, the air temperature was higher than the long-term average by 1-2°C, only the Sudeten Foreland area showed a temperature in the long-term norm. A similar situation was observed in the first ten days of June, in the east of the country where the air temperature reached 17.5-18.5°C, while in the west it was 15-17°C.

In May, the lowest precipitation occurred in the north-east of the country (50-60 mm) and they were in the norm of the long-term average. Slightly larger precipitation occurred in a wide belt of central Poland, west of the Vistula (60-100 mm). The highest rainfall was recorded in the Mazowiecka and Śląska Lowlands and the Śląsko-Krakowska Uplands (from 120 to 180 mm) which was from 130 to 250% (Mazovia) of the long-term norm.

Precipitation in June was very diverse. The lowest rainfall ranging 30-60 mm occurred in the north of the country (Embankment and Południowobałtycki Lake district), the highest was recorded on the Śląsko-Krakowska and Malopolska Highlands (160-180 mm) while in the Sudety very high rainfall was recorded, even as high as 200 mm.

Very heavy rainfall, which occurred throughout the country, especially in the south-western part of the Poland in addition to the occurrence at the time of the relatively high air temperatures, can cause significant infection of cereals and oilseed rape. The current weather conditions are very conducive to cereals head diseases, especially Fusarium and Glume blotch fungus.

In many areas of Poland, after such very heavy precipitations, creates a high risk due to large accumulations of water on the fields. The remaining water can cause field crops to rot, and it should be noted that an excess of water for the plants is more dangerous in comparison to its deficiency.

In many areas, there is a significant water excess to the crop, which continues to be very dangerous for their growth and development. Apart of that, in some parts of the Poland rainfall occurred in the form of hail, which also may contribute to a more local losses.