CROP DAMAGE DUE TO CATASTROPHIC DROUGHT IN 2003

Abstract

In 2003, Slovenia recorded its most severe water deficit in all agricultural areas of the country. In addition to summer drought, which is a typical phenomenon of northeastern Slovenia and the Littoral region, the whole country’s agriculture suffered in 2003 due to the exceptionally early, severe spring drought, which extended into late summer. Only 40 to 70% of the normal precipitation fell in the major part of Slovenia in the period from March to August. In this period, the cumulative water deficit for grass increased to 500 mm in the Littoral region, ranged from 400 to 450 mm in northeastern and southwestern regions, and was above 300 mm in central Slovenia. Particulary adverse was the combination of drought and high temperatures, enhancing evapotranspiration and reducing soil moisture. Extreme temperatures caused heat stress, especially to less tolerant plants. Damage due to drought was recorded for more than 60 % of agricultural land in Slovenia. The first estimations of losses in crop yield in 2003 exceeded 103 million EUR. Although several severe and prolonged droughts have occurred in Slovenia in recent years, substantial changes are yet to be made in agricultural practice. The most vulnerable regions in the last decade are becoming increasingly more vulnerable due to the increase of water shortage. The 2003 phenomenon has shown that new regions are being added to the group of vulnerable regions prone to drought. This has raised the awareness that the recent impact of drought on available water resources is highly significant, while the currrent climate change scenarios suggest that the frequency and impacts of such events could also increase. Are we prepared for this?