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L. Łab˛ edzki et al.
5.1 General Background
5.1.1 Agricultural Land Cover and Use
Located within the Central European Plain, Poland constitutes a lowland country
(75% of the area lies below 200 m above mean sea level). It should be stressed,
however, that its’ landscape is diversified as a result of geographical setting and
glaciation-related processes. Poland covers the area of 312684 km
2 (ca 31 mln
ha), from which 60% is farmland, and 29% constitutes a woodland. Arable land is
present on the area of 14046000 ha, including: meadows—2598000 ha, pastures—
1480000 ha, orchards—268000 ha. Over the last years (from 1991) the agricultural
land area has decreased by about 250000 ha [1].
The major agricultural region is situated on the Central Plains which stretch across
the entire width of Poland. There are such provinces where agriculture became the
main source of income, while the productive agricultural land of ca 14.6 mln ha
supports a population of 38.4 mln people (about 0.389 ha per person). Private farms
have still been the most significant land ownership form, occupying 92% of the
agricultural areas. Although 15% of the total employed persons belong currently to
the agriculture sector, the share in GDP is estimated to be only 3% [1–3].
The main areas of agriculture activity in Poland are crop and dairy production,
and animal husbandry, cattle and livestock directed at meat production. The share
in total sowing area of basic cereals is considered to be 57.1%, the potatoes occupy
9.6%, oil-bearing—2.7%, sugar beets—2.7%, field vegetables—2.0%, and orchards
pertain to 1.0% respectively [3, 4].
5.1.2 Soils
Poland area is characterized by high diversity of the parent rocks, geological as well as
pedological processes, leading to a number of soil types and sub-types existence over
polish territory [5]. Among the most recognized soil types there are brown soils, acid
brown soils, grey brown podsolic soils, rusty soils and podsolic soils. A much smaller
area is occupied by chernozem soils, rendzina soils, black soils as well as alluvial
soils. With respect to organic soils, that occupy about 4% of Poland’s territory and are
usually covered by diverse grassland areas, the main types embrace: alluvial muck
soils, muck soils and peat soils. It is a fact, that the majority of soils originate from
loose-structured, post-glacial rocks with relatively small area occupied by massive
bedrock. Taking into consideration the cultivation potential, all soils considered to
be proper either excellent for agricultural use amount to 23% of the whole arable
lands. The soil deposits that fall into moderate category, occupy about 47%. Marginal
and unsuitable ones are present on 30% of the land. In some extent, the unsuitable
Polish soil types have still been cultivated, however, the abandoned land has been
increasing ever since.
L. Łab˛ edzki et al.
5.1 General Background
5.1.1 Agricultural Land Cover and Use
Located within the Central European Plain, Poland constitutes a lowland country
(75% of the area lies below 200 m above mean sea level). It should be stressed,
however, that its’ landscape is diversified as a result of geographical setting and
glaciation-related processes. Poland covers the area of 312684 km
2 (ca 31 mln
ha), from which 60% is farmland, and 29% constitutes a woodland. Arable land is
present on the area of 14046000 ha, including: meadows—2598000 ha, pastures—
1480000 ha, orchards—268000 ha. Over the last years (from 1991) the agricultural
land area has decreased by about 250000 ha [1].
The major agricultural region is situated on the Central Plains which stretch across
the entire width of Poland. There are such provinces where agriculture became the
main source of income, while the productive agricultural land of ca 14.6 mln ha
supports a population of 38.4 mln people (about 0.389 ha per person). Private farms
have still been the most significant land ownership form, occupying 92% of the
agricultural areas. Although 15% of the total employed persons belong currently to
the agriculture sector, the share in GDP is estimated to be only 3% [1–3].
The main areas of agriculture activity in Poland are crop and dairy production,
and animal husbandry, cattle and livestock directed at meat production. The share
in total sowing area of basic cereals is considered to be 57.1%, the potatoes occupy
9.6%, oil-bearing—2.7%, sugar beets—2.7%, field vegetables—2.0%, and orchards
pertain to 1.0% respectively [3, 4].
5.1.2 Soils
Poland area is characterized by high diversity of the parent rocks, geological as well as
pedological processes, leading to a number of soil types and sub-types existence over
polish territory [5]. Among the most recognized soil types there are brown soils, acid
brown soils, grey brown podsolic soils, rusty soils and podsolic soils. A much smaller
area is occupied by chernozem soils, rendzina soils, black soils as well as alluvial
soils. With respect to organic soils, that occupy about 4% of Poland’s territory and are
usually covered by diverse grassland areas, the main types embrace: alluvial muck
soils, muck soils and peat soils. It is a fact, that the majority of soils originate from
loose-structured, post-glacial rocks with relatively small area occupied by massive
bedrock. Taking into consideration the cultivation potential, all soils considered to
be proper either excellent for agricultural use amount to 23% of the whole arable
lands. The soil deposits that fall into moderate category, occupy about 47%. Marginal
and unsuitable ones are present on 30% of the land. In some extent, the unsuitable
Polish soil types have still been cultivated, however, the abandoned land has been
increasing ever since.