- As a result of the heatwave at the turn of August and September, water deficits in many regions were seriously disturbed.
- In many regions, the recorded water shortage has worsened the condition of potato and beet plantations, which are intensively building yields during this period.
- IUNG-PIB published 12th drought report. This year it will publish 2 more reports.
As we read in the 12th drought report of IUNG-PIB in Puławy, which covers the period from July 11 to September 10, 2024, the average value of the Climatic Water Balance (CWB) for the country, based on which the assessment of the drought risk is made, was negative, amounting to -100 mm. The water deficit in the current period compared to the previous sixty-day period increased by 14 mm.
Read more
IUNG: drought is getting worse. Where and for which crops is the situation the worst?
Read more
Drought drains state budget and farmers' pockets
Where is the greatest drought occurring?
It has strengthened in regions that have been suffering from drought for weeks:
– The largest water shortages from -160 to -209 mm were recorded in the western part of the Pomeranian and Wielkopolska Lake Districts, in the Mazovian and Podlasie Lowlands, in Polesie and the Sandomierz Basin. In the south of the country and in north-western Poland, the water deficit was the smallest from -50 to -119 mm. In the rest of the country, water shortages for crops were recorded from -120 to -159 mm – we read in the IUNG-PIB report.
Climatic Water Balance (CWB) in the 12th drought report published by IUNG-PIB in Puławy Source: IUNG-PIB
As of September 10 this year, drought continued in selected counties in 15 voivodeships. It affected:
- Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship,
- Podlasie,
- Subcarpathia,
- Lublin,
- Mazowiecki,
- Greater Poland,
- Lodz,
- West Pomeranian,
- Warmia-Masuria,
- Świętokrzyskie,
- Lubuskie,
- Pomeranian,
- Lesser Poland,
- Opole,
- Silesian.
It was found in 9 crops, namely:
- Corn for silage,
- Potato,
- Fruit bushes,
- Corn for grain,
- Legumes,
- Sugar beet,
- Hops,
- Ground vegetables,
- Tobacco.
Read more
How quickly will corn dry after the rains?
Will drought affect corn cultivation?
Due to the water deficit at the end of the corn vegetation period, it should be expected that where there was a lack of rainfall, the grain will have a low MTZ. Drought also caused premature drying of leaves, which also affected the grain pouring process. Drought in grain corn was recorded in 467 communes (18.85% of Polish communes), while in silage corn it was recorded in 556 communes (22.45% of Polish communes). The greatest drought range in these crops was recorded in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Podlaskie and Podkarpackie provinces.
Drought in potatoes and sugar beets
Drought in potatoes has become more severe than in the previous report. In the 12th report, it already affected 15 voivodeships. It was recorded in 490 communes (19.78% of Polish communes).
An increasing drought has also been noted in sugar beet, which, like potatoes, is in the stage of intensive mass building. In the 12th report, drought in sugar beet was noted in 29 voivodeships in 41 communes (1.66% of Polish communes).
Rainfall divided Poland
In August, precipitation was very diverse across the country. In the northern regions of Poland, precipitation ranged from 20 to 60 mm (40-80% of the multi-year norm), while in the southern areas, it ranged from 60 to 100 mm (80-160% of norm). Particularly heavy precipitation was recorded in the Lublin Upland, from 100 to 180 mm (i.e. from 160-380% of norm) and in the Sudetes, from 160 to 240 mm (160-320% of norm). Heavy precipitation was also recorded in the Wielkopolska Lowland, in the northern areas of the Silesian Lowland and in the southern areas of the Mazovian Lowland, from 80 to 160 mm (i.e. 80-280% of norm).
In the first ten days of September, the highest rainfall was recorded in Western Pomerania, the Silesian Lowland, the Sudetes and in the central part of the Masurian Lake District, from 20 to 50 or even 100 mm. The lowest rainfall, below 5 mm, was recorded in the easternmost parts of Poland.