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: rape seed, turnip rape and  sugar beets,.

In the twelve reporting period, i.e. from July 21 to September 20, 2013, IUNG-PIB does not state a risk of agricultural drought in Poland.

The average value of climatic water balance (CWB), based on which defines the agricultural drought risk during the period from July 21 to September 20 this year, was -67 mm. In still a large part of Poland (except the north-east of the country) there is a shortage of water. However, the CWB in the country with respect to the situation from ten days ago were significantly increased by an average of 50 mm. Such a large increase in the CWB caused that the water shortage for the crops has significantly decreased.

The lowest values of CWB in Poland occurred in the same territory as in the previous sixty-day period (in the south-eastern area of the country). However, the current values of the CWB compared to the previous period are higher by an average of 30-40 mm. The largest water deficit in the current sixty-day period occurred in the Chodelska valley, from -150 to -159 mm. However, in the Iłżeckie Foothills, Radom Plains, Kozienicka and Sandomierz Uplands, the CWB value ranged from -140 to -149 mm. Large water shortages have also been reported to continue in south-eastern Poland where the deficit of water in the area ranged from -120 to -139 mm.

August this year was warm and very warm. The area with the highest air temperature in August was the Sandomierz Basin; highlands: the Silesian-Krakow and Malopolska; Plains: Wielkopolska and Mazowiecka (southern areas), the temperature ranged from 19 to 19.5°C. In most parts of the country air temperature ranged from 18 to 19°C. The north-eastern area of Poland was the coldest region of the country, and the average air temperature ranged from 17 to 17.5°C. In relation to the long-term average, the air temperature was higher in the south-eastern Poland by 1.5-2°C, with the exception of the northern regions, where it was higher by 0.5-1°C.

In the first ten days of September, the temperature in the country was very different. It was very warm in the west of the country from 15 to 16.5°C and in the eastern part of Poland was much cooler, from 11.5 to 14°C. In the second ten days of this month, the air temperature varied very little over the country, ranging from 12 to 13°C. Only the north end was warmer, with temperatures ranging from 13 to 14°C, and southern regions of Poland were cooler and the air temperature was within 11 to 12°C.

Relative to the previous sixty-day period, there was a reduction in evapotranspiration. The average evapotranspiration for the country was 193 mm and was lower by only 29 mm with respect to the previous sixty-day period. This is the fourth consecutive sixty-day period with smaller values of evapotranspiration. The highest evapotranspiration (similar like in the previous periods) occurred in the Malopolska Highlands, Śląska, Mazowiecka, Wielkopolska Lowlands, and Lubuskie Lake District, and ranged from 210 to 220 mm. However, the lowest evapotranspiration (150-190 mm) was found in the northern parts of the country.

In August, the lowest rainfall from a few to 20 mm was recorded in south-eastern Poland. In addition, low values of precipitation were recorded in the north-western parts of the country from 30 to 40 mm. In the most of the territory, the precipitation ranged from 50 to 70 mm. The highest rainfall ranging from 90 to 100 mm and was recorded in the northern parts of Poland (coastal region of Koszalin).

In the first ten days of September, rainfall distribution was very similar to one of August. The lowest rainfalls from a few to 20 mm were recorded in the south-eastern and north-western parts of the country. However, the highest rainfall ranging from 40 to 45 mm was recorded (as in August) in the northern regions in the coastal region of Koszalin.

In the second ten days of September, the lowest rainfall was in the north-western Poland, the precipitation ranged from a few to 30 mm. However, the area with the highest rainfall in the second decade of September was the north-eastern Poland, where there has been relatively high rainfall ranging from 70 to 150 mm.

In three previous sixty-day periods, areas with the greatest water deficit were Mazowsze, Lublin, Subcarpathian and eastern regions of the Malopolska Upland. The situation in the Mazowsze region in the current period had biggest change and this area saw a significant reduction in water shortages. However, in the other mentioned above areas the great shortage of persists rain.

The relevant period is considered more beneficial to the crop in terms of moisture than the three previous periods. The latest occurring rainfall caused that water deficit in plants has been significantly limited and does not have quite as many negative effects in the course of the growing season and yield losses, as was the case in previous periods.