5 Irrigation and Drainage in Polish Agriculture …
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5.3 Present Status of Irrigation and Drainage
5.3.1 Role of Irrigation and Drainage in Agriculture
In general, the role of irrigation in Poland is considered to be supporting and interventional, put into operation in short periods during the growing season. Proper
systems of irrigation mainly are located in regions of severe and frequent droughts.
The driest regions of Poland, most threatened with droughts, cover almost the entire
central region as well as north-western and mid-eastern ones. Statistically, irrigation
is needed once in three years. It should be stressed that very seldom some of the crops
cultivated in Poland do not require irrigation in the growing season. Nevertheless, in
extremely dry years (e.g. 1992 and 2000) around 40% of the country area becomes
constrained by drought. Obviously, it is related with the status of agricultural production, pointing at a mean decrease in crop yield to range 10–40% in those years in
reference to the average year. The economic cost of drought to agriculture can be
roughly estimated as 0.1% of GDP. Irrigation management in Poland is supposed
to counteract the development of drought locally, in areas of light soils with valuable crops, where water scarcity periods most probably occur, leading to substantial
yields’ decline. But still irrigated agriculture has a small role in food production [11].
In respect of spatial distribution of yield reduction of all crops, the central, centraleast and central-west part of Poland are remarkable, where agriculture drought risk
is evaluated as the greatest one. These regions of Poland are most threatened by
water deficits causing the most significant crop yield losses. In two very dry years:
1982–1983, an average decrease in grain crops reached 5–30% in various regions of
Poland and that of potatoes even 10–40% as compared to the average crops amounts in
1985–1987 [11]. On account of significant drought in 1992 the overall value of crops
decreased by 25%. Besides, the obtainable crops of grain, potatoes and bulk fodder
as expressed in cereal units dropped in 1992 by 31% than those gathered in 1991.
Meadow hay crops (mean for the country) were reduced by 27% in comparison to the
average rates of 1986–1990. Droughts in years 2005–2006 hindered crop production
significantly, particularly in the central part of Poland, from the west to the east. In
2006, however, due to few week hot weather strip and shortage of precipitation in June
and July, the most significant drop in yields of spring cereals, maize, potatoes, sugar
beets and grasslands was noted. According to the evaluations made by the Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development, the reduction in meadows and pastures yield
ranged from 40–100%, spring cereals—20–60%, winter cereals—15–50%, rape—
15–45%, potatoes and sugar beets—20–60%, and vegetables—30–60% respectively.
It was also noticeable that the drought in 2015 caused 12% yield loss of cereals, 20%
of vegetables, 25% of potatoes and 50–70% of silage maize.
However, the functioning of irrigation systems on agricultural lands has still been
minor on account of a very small occupied surface (0.5% of the total agricultural
lands). In addition to a vital role in eliminating the effects of drought and stabilizing
crop production, in recent years the importance of sub-irrigation systems for the
protection of organic soils and natural resources has been stressed.
97
5.3 Present Status of Irrigation and Drainage
5.3.1 Role of Irrigation and Drainage in Agriculture
In general, the role of irrigation in Poland is considered to be supporting and interventional, put into operation in short periods during the growing season. Proper
systems of irrigation mainly are located in regions of severe and frequent droughts.
The driest regions of Poland, most threatened with droughts, cover almost the entire
central region as well as north-western and mid-eastern ones. Statistically, irrigation
is needed once in three years. It should be stressed that very seldom some of the crops
cultivated in Poland do not require irrigation in the growing season. Nevertheless, in
extremely dry years (e.g. 1992 and 2000) around 40% of the country area becomes
constrained by drought. Obviously, it is related with the status of agricultural production, pointing at a mean decrease in crop yield to range 10–40% in those years in
reference to the average year. The economic cost of drought to agriculture can be
roughly estimated as 0.1% of GDP. Irrigation management in Poland is supposed
to counteract the development of drought locally, in areas of light soils with valuable crops, where water scarcity periods most probably occur, leading to substantial
yields’ decline. But still irrigated agriculture has a small role in food production [11].
In respect of spatial distribution of yield reduction of all crops, the central, centraleast and central-west part of Poland are remarkable, where agriculture drought risk
is evaluated as the greatest one. These regions of Poland are most threatened by
water deficits causing the most significant crop yield losses. In two very dry years:
1982–1983, an average decrease in grain crops reached 5–30% in various regions of
Poland and that of potatoes even 10–40% as compared to the average crops amounts in
1985–1987 [11]. On account of significant drought in 1992 the overall value of crops
decreased by 25%. Besides, the obtainable crops of grain, potatoes and bulk fodder
as expressed in cereal units dropped in 1992 by 31% than those gathered in 1991.
Meadow hay crops (mean for the country) were reduced by 27% in comparison to the
average rates of 1986–1990. Droughts in years 2005–2006 hindered crop production
significantly, particularly in the central part of Poland, from the west to the east. In
2006, however, due to few week hot weather strip and shortage of precipitation in June
and July, the most significant drop in yields of spring cereals, maize, potatoes, sugar
beets and grasslands was noted. According to the evaluations made by the Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development, the reduction in meadows and pastures yield
ranged from 40–100%, spring cereals—20–60%, winter cereals—15–50%, rape—
15–45%, potatoes and sugar beets—20–60%, and vegetables—30–60% respectively.
It was also noticeable that the drought in 2015 caused 12% yield loss of cereals, 20%
of vegetables, 25% of potatoes and 50–70% of silage maize.
However, the functioning of irrigation systems on agricultural lands has still been
minor on account of a very small occupied surface (0.5% of the total agricultural
lands). In addition to a vital role in eliminating the effects of drought and stabilizing
crop production, in recent years the importance of sub-irrigation systems for the
protection of organic soils and natural resources has been stressed.