Occurrence of drought more and more likely: research institute
14:00
The occurrence of agricultural drought is more and more likely, the Poland-based Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG) informed on May 11.
“Water shortages in previous years and low rainfall in winter and early spring in 2020 led to a decrease in water reserves in the soil profile, which may be a harbinger of another agricultural drought. In some regions of Poland, the first symptoms of water scarcity are already visible in the fields. The emergence of spring cereals was delayed and uneven. Winter cereals and winter rapeseed in some regions of the country also show the first symptoms of water scarcity, premature drying of the lower leaves,” an IUNG report states.
“If in the coming weeks, there is no significant increase in rainfall, in the order of several dozen millimeters, existing soil water shortages may deepen and result in another agricultural drought and a significant reduction in yields,” the report adds.
(PAP)
