Recent and future soil temperature regime in the coldest part of Poland

Abstract

Global climate change is one of the factors changing the thermal regime of soils and thus the conditions of agricultural production. The soil temperature data of two stations (Białystok and Suwałki) of Poland for 40 years (1981-2020) measured at five depths (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 cm) were analyzed. The averaging of the soil temperature for the layers 0-20 cm and 0-50 cm indicated a progressive warming of soils. At the beginning of the 21st century, there was a change in the thermal regime from frigid to mesic, with an average rate of 0.40C per decade. In the summer months, rate of increase was twice as high. Soil climate change results in already changing structure of plant cultivation and the need to introduce new elements in the technology of soil cultivation. To ensure a satisfactory yield of plants, it will be particularly important to rationally modify the water management of agricultural areas.