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, oilseed rape and turnip rape, sugar beet, shrubs and fruit trees and strawberries.

In the first reporting period, i.e. from April 1 to May 31, 2015, 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 above-mentioned crop are much higher than the critical value.

The lowest CWB values were the Lubuskie region reaching from -120 to -139 mm. Low values CWB applied also in other areas of Wielkopolskie Lakeland from -120 to -129 mm. These values were very close to the critical value, but they have not been exceeded, which means that in this sixty days  period there were not moisture conditions causing this reduction at the municipal level by 20% compared to the average yields due to water scarcity occurring.

While the highest CWB value (close to zero) was recorded in eastern and south-eastern parts of Poland, in some areas of this part of the country even recorded positive values ranging from 20 to 40 mm.

April this year was within the norm in the area of the Gdansk, thru out the central territory of the country, in the Lublin region and the eastern parts of Poland; while the remaining areas of the country recorded temperature higher than the average by 0.5 to 1.5°C. The highest deviation from the mean temperature, i.e. warmer than the long term norm was near Gdansk, on the coast, in the Lubuskie region and in the Silesian Lowland. The highest air temperature occurred in western Poland, reaching more than 9°C in the Lubuskie region,  Silesian Lowland and Upland. On the large area of the country air temperature was from 8 to 9°C. In the north of the country, in the eastern part, the temperature was lower and ranged from 6 to 7°C.

May this year, in terms of temperature was relatively low. The highest air temperature occurred in in the south-western part of the Poland, reaching 13-13.5°C. In most parts of the country were recorded temperatures from 12 to 13°C. The coolest was in the north, and in these areas air temperature was from 10 to 12°C.

In April, a high diversity of precipitation was found. Very low rainfall, less than 20 mm occurred in Lake Districts: Poznańskim, Gnieźnieńskim, Krajeńskim, Szczecineckim, Wałeckim, as well as in Zielonogórskie hills, Śląskie lowlands, and they accounted in this area for 50 to 60% of long-term norm. Low rainfall ranging 20-30 mm occurred in most parts of the country, acting in these regions as 60-90% of norm. On the other hand should also be pointed relatively high precipitation occurring Lithuanian Lake District and on the Gdansk Embankment, precipitation in those regions was from 40 do80 mm, representing between 110 to 150% of long-term norm. The highest precipitation more than 100 mm was recorded in the Tatra Mountains.

May this year in terms of precipitation was varied. The lowest occurred over a large area in the western and central parts of the country. The lowest rainfall occurred especially in  Lubuska region, Wielkopolska and in Kujawy, even less than 20 mm. The further east of these areas, the rainfall values were higher. The highest precipitation was recorded in the Lublin Upland and in the eastern and western Beskidy, in Podhale and Tatry, from 100 to over 220 mm.

In the country in this sixty days period it occurred as very great diversity in terms of water resources for crops. In the western part of the Central Polish Lowlands it recorded a large deficit of water, which can result in a significant reduction in yields. Especially with regard to crops located on weak and very weak soils, on heavy soils water scarcity it is less noticeable. Lack of water is especially noticeable in spring and winter cereals, fruit bushes and among the strawberries. Particularly difficult situation occurs especially in crops which are sown late (ground vegetables and maize), which course unequal and long-lasting emergence.

While the heavy rainfall that occurred in the south-eastern and eastern parts of the country can cause extensive infestation of cereals and oilseed rape. There is a high risk of developing many fungal diseases in cereals like Septoria Leaf and Glume, leaf rust, and in case of rape - Stem Rot. Currently, prevailing weather conditions also favour the development of fungal diseases of fruit trees, among others apple scab.