Effect of the predicted climate changes on the water needs of cauliflower cultivated in the Central Poland

Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate the water needs of early cultivars of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.). The calculations, based on the expected changes of air temperature, covered the forecasted thirty-years period, considered from 2021 to 2050. The research include the region of Bydgoszcz located in the central Poland. The forecasted mean monthly values of temperature in the region of central Poland, in the years 2021-2050, according to the climate change scenario for Poland (SRES: A1B), were used in the estimations. The water requirements of cauliflower early cultivars grown on three types of soil that diversified in terms of the water capacity (light soil, medium soil, heavy soil), were considered using two methods: Klatta's method and Press's method. The cauliflower water needs in the growing period, assumed from April to July, were calculated for each year during the considered thirty-years (2021-2050). As the reference period, the thirtyyears interval from 1981 to 2010 was applied. According to the expected changes of climate conditions, the results of study indicate that during the forecasted period (2021-2050), in the central Poland, the water requirements of cauliflower early cultivars will increase by about 6 %. Comparing to the reference period, considered from 1981 to 2010, the water needs of cauliflower early cultivars grown on the medium soil will increase in the forecasted years in the range from 304 to 321 mm. On the light (sandy) soil, the water requirements of cauliflower early cultivars, calculated by the Klatta's and Press's methods, in the forecasted period will increase from 349 to 369 mm and from 364 to 385 mm, respectively. While on the heavy (concise) soil, the water needs of cauliflower early cultivars in the forecasted years will increase from 258 to 273 mm and from 243 to 257 mm, according to the Klatta's and Press's method, respectively. During the growing period, the highest water requirements of cauliflower early cultivars were estimated in June: 85-90 mm on heavy soil, 107 mm on medium soil and 123-129 mm on light soil. In the years 2021-2050, in July, should be expected the highest increase of cauliflower early cultivars water requirements (by about 14 %).

Requirements and Effects of Surface Drip Irrigation of Mid-Early Potato Cultivar Courage on a Very Light Soil in Central Poland

“…This model, based on the measurement of the minimum and maximum daily air temperature, was used to calculate the reference evapotranspiration value, because it can be widely used in agricultural practice to deter-mine the water needs of plants and to control irrigation. Its usefulness for calculating reference evapotranspiration in Polish conditions was also confirmed by Treder, et al [31], Rolbiecki, et al [38], and Figas, et al [39].…”