Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/23.1.3292
Farmers observations on the impact of excessive rain and flooding on agricultural land in Croatia
Helena SENKO
; Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Institute Ruđer Bošković, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Lucia POLE
orcid.org/0000-0003-1654-4267
; Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Institute Ruđer Bošković, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Armin MEŠIĆ
; Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Institute Ruđer Bošković, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Dunja ŠAMEC
; Department of Food Technology, University North, Trg dr. Žarka Dolinara 1, 48000 Koprivnica, Croatia
Marko PETEK
; Department of Plant Nutrition, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ines POHAJDA
; Ministry of Agriculture, Ulica grada Vukovara 78, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ivana RAJNOVIĆ
; Department of Microbiology, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Nikolina UDIKOVIĆ-KOLIĆ
; Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Institute Ruđer Bošković, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Lidija BRKLJAČIĆ
; Division of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute Ruđer Bošković, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Goran PALIJAN
; Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Ulica cara Hadrijana 8/A, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Ines PETRIĆ
; Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Institute Ruđer Bošković, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Extreme events have produced more rain and became more frequent in many regions around the world, and these trends will rise with the warming of the planet. The vulnerable agricultural sectors, directly dependent on the climate, is predicted to be significantly affected by climate change, with an expected decline in future crop yields. We provide data on the effects of floods, because of excessive rain, on the agricultural sector in Croatia, with emphasis on its northern Pannonian region. Data collected for the period 2015-2020 are based on a 34-question survey, conducted among farmers previously reporting on climate-related damages to their crops. With almost 80% of farmers having experienced flooding on their field plots in the last 5 years (mostly short-term flooding, i.e. waterlogging of up to seven days), it is clear that this type of investigation needs further attention. Data suggested that floods most often occurred in the plant germination phase (before the 5th leaf) representing a risk for plant damage and consequent reduction in yields.
A combination of mitigation and adaptation measures could minimize water retention in the fields and reduce damage,
however, our survey implied that farmers scarcely use such measures. Knowledge gained in this study represents the first
step toward understanding potential negative effects of the extreme events on the fragile agricultural sector in Croatia
and could help authorities in decision making with the aim to reduce the degree of uncertainty associated with climate
change effects.
Keywords
extreme weather events; rain, flooding; agriculture; Croatia; crops
Hrčak ID:
274237
URI
Publication date:
23.3.2022.
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