Quantity, intensity and seasonal distribution of precipitation have an indu-bitable impact on soil moisture. Precipitation water could be used by plants only when percolates into soil and is retained as capillary water. In case of excessive amount or intensity of rain, part of water percolates below the root system level or runs off at soil surface. During two years of experiment (2009-2010) quantity and intensity of precipitation were observed and analyzed. Daily and weekly measure-ments of soil water content were done to assess the impact of intensity and quantity of precipitation on soil moisture changes in apple orchard. Total rainfalls for years 2009 and 2010 were higher from the multi-year average. Also, the temporal distribution of precipitation differed within and between the analyzed years, how-ever, the amount of rainfall collected during the vegetative period (May-September) constituted more than 50% of the total yearly precipitation. The results showed low efficiency of small rains. On average, during the vegetative period, minimal precipitation necessary to keep the soil water content at a stable level was 13-14 mm during a week. Efficiency of precipitation depended on the soil surface maintaining system. In case of soil maintained as a chemical fallow the highest efficiency was ...
The authors present the results of research on the changes of the hydrolog-ical properties of sandy soil after applying the hydrogel ZEBA SP. Uniqueness of the absorbent is due to the fact that is obtained from maize corn starch and there-fore can be an alternative to the hydrogels offered in Poland.In the laboratory experience, in which pF curves of the soil were outlined with the different content of ZEBA SP absorbent was conducted, as well as experi-ence in vases was assumed determining the influence of different concentrations of preparation on changes of the soil moisture and the pace of the soil drying.Examinations showed, around preparation is giving the best effects in the concentration of the 0.5%. Such an amount of preparation: increased the effective and potential useful retention of the soil by the 17%; extended the time of drying of the soil from the state maximum to the minimal humidity from 14 up to 19 days in comparing with the soil without absorbent; increased the availability of the soil water for plants from 9 up to 20 days. ...
An important effect of temperature increase due to global warming is the possibility of decreasing agricultural efficiency of atmospheric precipitation as well as the change in the fundamental components of water balance due to increase in evaporation, which is accompanied by the absence of clear precipitation trends in the temperate European zones. The subject of this article is to determine the values of atmospheric precipitation, which during the drought phase should be supplemented with irrigation values so that it does not lower the moisture of the active soil layer in terms of the recent mean levels. We should also take into account different temperature scenarios (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0°C). The multiple-step regression model that has been calculated taking into account the level of soil moisture, air temperature and precipitation indicates that for a mean 10-day period (decade) during the growing season (April-October) the values obtained are 2.2, 3.6 and 5.2 mm, as well as 46, 76 and 109 mm in the entire growing season respectively. This particular model was devised for the city of Poznan and its vicinities, which is situated in north-western Poland. ...
Assessment of soil moisture conditions on permanent grassland in Poland is made within the nationwide monitoring of water deficit and surplus in agriculture performed by Institute of Technology and Life Sciences from 2013. Soil moisture index SMI is used to categorize soil moisture in the end of each 10-day period during the vegetation period (April-September), using the original classification proposed by the authors. SMI enables the comparison of moisture conditions in soils with different water retention and the objective evaluation of soil drought and water excess. Assessment is made for grassland in wet, moist, periodically dry and dry habitats in 2013-2014. In wet and moist habitats soil moisture was in the optimal range for grassland plants and meteorological conditions affected in small degree. In periodically and dry habitats soil moisture was more differentiated and was affected by actual meteorological conditions greater. Soil droughts dominated. ...
The paper presents trends in average annual soil moisture in the area covered by the sixty-year old pine stand. The area of analysis is located in the Tuczno Forest District, the Martew Forestry, in the north-western part of Poland. The calculations were based on the measurements of soil moisture at seven different depths below the ground level. A set of probes was installed for measuring the moisture using TDR method in order to calculate retention changes in the unsaturated zone. Humidity measurements used in this work were carried out at daily intervals throughout the year 2014. Designated trends were analysed using the non-parametric Mann- Kendall test, which is used for detecting trend of hydrological and meteorological parameters. Negative values of the Mann-Kendall statistics point to a declining trend for most - six out of the seven, analysed levels of measurement. The tendency toward dryness was not confirmed by the data set of precipitations. Although precipitations are considered to be the main driver of variations in soil moisture their impact severity seems to be controlled by other characteristics of the catchment area and components of the water balance, such as evapotranspiration. ...
