Agronomy journal, Vol. 86 No. 3, 2024.
Original scientific paper
Soil water deficit in the cultivation of alfalfa, tomatoes and grapevines in the Osijek-Baranja and Istria Counties under the conditions of climate change
Danijela Jungić
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Stjepan Husnjak
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The main objective of this work is i) to show the trend of climate change in Osijek-Baranja County and Istria County by comparing basic meteorological data (precipitation and air temperature) between three climatic periods: 1961 -1980 (first period), 1981 - 2000 (second period) and 2001 - 2020 (third period) and ii) to determine the impact of climate change on soil water deficit and its changes during the mentioned periods for alfalfa, tomato and grapevine. In Osijek-Baranja County, a trend towards an increase in annual precipitation and air temperature was observed in the third period compared to the second period (+52.2 mm and +0.7 °C), i.e. compared to the first period (+32.3 mm and + 1.3 °C). In the vegetation period (April-September), the third period was wetter and warmer compared to the first and second periods. The water deficit in vegetation in both average and dry years was in the following order: grapevine < alfalfa < tomato and was greatest in the second period. The greatest difference in water deficit during the vegetation period was greatest between the first and second period (average year) while this difference was greatest between the third and first period (dry year). In Istria County, there was a trend towards an increase in annual precipitation and in air temperature of 100.3 mm and 1.2 °C in the third period compared to the second period, and a decrease in precipitation of 31.1 mm and an increase in air temperature of 1.6 °C compared to the first period. As far as vegetation is concerned, the third period was wetter and warmer then the second period, but also drier and warmer than the first period. The water deficit in the vegetation in average and dry years moved in the order: grapevine < alfalfa < tomato, and the largest water deficit was recorded in the third period. The greatest difference in water deficit during the growing season was in an average year between the first and second period and in a dry year between the third and first period. The climatic changes of the last 20 years are the reason why the water deficit in the soil of alfalfa, tomatoes, and grapevines is more and more pronounced in average and dry years. In order to compensate for the water losses in the soil and achieve a satisfactory yield of these crops, irrigation systems must be planned and built, but also appropriate agrotechnical measures must be implemented (selection of varieties and cultivars adapted to dry conditions, covering the soil with foil, adapting the method and timing of sowing/planting the crops).
Keywords
soil water deficit; climate; agricultural crops
Hrčak ID:
322407
URI
Publication date:
22.10.2024.
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