102
L. Łab˛ edzki et al.
5.4 Problems, Challenges, Opportunities and Constraints
to Future Development of Irrigation and Drainage
5.4.1 Technical State, Maintenance, Reconstruction
and Modernization of Melioration Systems
Having acknowledged the need to analyse the status of melioration equipment and
systems, an insight into reclaimed agricultural lands discovers usually their poor
technical condition. The study performed by Kaca [15] proved that in Poland, in
2013, the youngest facilities not demanding reconstruction, at the age of 21 were
present on 3.5 thousand hectares of permanent grassland, while significant numbers,
reaching the age of 64, cover the area of 37.8 thousand ha. Prevailing devices are at
the age of 50, operating on the area of 55.1 thousand ha (Fig. 5.1). On arable lands,
the youngest facilities not requiring reconstruction at the age of 20 were on the area
of 17.5 thousand ha, and the oldest ones, around the age of 64, pertain to the area
of 3.7 thousand ha. Devices prevailing at the age of 45, refer to a surface of 159.3
thousand ha.
No secondary melioration equipment was maintained on more than half of the
reclaimed area of agricultural land (53% of agricultural land, including about 49%
of arable land and 65% of grassland) (Table 5.3). In 2016, drainage and irrigation systems were maintained in working order on 51.0% (2.3 million hectares) of
the drained and irrigated area of arable land, and 34.9% (0.6 million hectares) of
permanent grasslands (meadows and pastures).
As given in the work of Kaca [16], a vital increase in this area should be planned,
up to 64% (3.0 million hectares) and 89% (4.1 million hectares) in arable lands and
38% (0.7 million hectares) and 46% (0.8 million hectares) in permanent grasslands
by years 2020 and 2030, respectively (Fig. 5.2).
Fig. 5.1 Area of reclaimed arable land (1) and permanent grassland (2) with facilities recognized
as not requiring reconstruction in a given age (as at the end of 2013) (acc. to [15])
L. Łab˛ edzki et al.
5.4 Problems, Challenges, Opportunities and Constraints
to Future Development of Irrigation and Drainage
5.4.1 Technical State, Maintenance, Reconstruction
and Modernization of Melioration Systems
Having acknowledged the need to analyse the status of melioration equipment and
systems, an insight into reclaimed agricultural lands discovers usually their poor
technical condition. The study performed by Kaca [15] proved that in Poland, in
2013, the youngest facilities not demanding reconstruction, at the age of 21 were
present on 3.5 thousand hectares of permanent grassland, while significant numbers,
reaching the age of 64, cover the area of 37.8 thousand ha. Prevailing devices are at
the age of 50, operating on the area of 55.1 thousand ha (Fig. 5.1). On arable lands,
the youngest facilities not requiring reconstruction at the age of 20 were on the area
of 17.5 thousand ha, and the oldest ones, around the age of 64, pertain to the area
of 3.7 thousand ha. Devices prevailing at the age of 45, refer to a surface of 159.3
thousand ha.
No secondary melioration equipment was maintained on more than half of the
reclaimed area of agricultural land (53% of agricultural land, including about 49%
of arable land and 65% of grassland) (Table 5.3). In 2016, drainage and irrigation systems were maintained in working order on 51.0% (2.3 million hectares) of
the drained and irrigated area of arable land, and 34.9% (0.6 million hectares) of
permanent grasslands (meadows and pastures).
As given in the work of Kaca [16], a vital increase in this area should be planned,
up to 64% (3.0 million hectares) and 89% (4.1 million hectares) in arable lands and
38% (0.7 million hectares) and 46% (0.8 million hectares) in permanent grasslands
by years 2020 and 2030, respectively (Fig. 5.2).
Fig. 5.1 Area of reclaimed arable land (1) and permanent grassland (2) with facilities recognized
as not requiring reconstruction in a given age (as at the end of 2013) (acc. to [15])