Water needs of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) in first three years of growing in different regions of Poland

Abstract

Abstract. Elderberry (Sambucusnigra L.) is a common species belonging to the Adoxaceae family native to most of Europe and North America. For centuries, elderberry has been used as a medicinal plant. This species is also a popular ornamental plant often grown in the gardens and city parks. However, the seedling survival rate of elderberry depends mainly on the suitable soil water conditions that can be controlled using a properly designed and operated microirrigation system. Firstly, it is necessary to determine the water needs of Sambucusnigra L., especially in the first period of growth, which determines the seedling survival rate of the plants introduced into the gardens or parks. A commonly accepted measure of the plant water requirements is the potential evapotranspiration of this plant. The purpose of the research was to assess the water needs of Sambucusnigra L. during the first three years of its growing in five different regions of Poland. Potential evapotranspiration of the elderberry was calculated using modified by Żakowicz for Polish conditions the Blaney-Criddle's method, to which the crop coefficients were adjusted. The study was carried out for thirty years, from 1981 to 2010, in five different agro-climatic regions of Poland.The largest water needs in the period of increased demand for water in elderberry (June-July) occurred in the central-north-western (232 mm) and central-eastern (230 mm) regions. The lowest water needs were found in the south-eastern region (214 mm). The highest rainfall deficit in the central-north-west region (102 mm), smaller rainfall deficit in the central-eastern and south-western regions, amounted to 82 mm and 72 mm, respectively. The lowest rainfall deficit (40 mm) was found in the south-eastern region.In the central-north-west and central-eastern regions, precipitation deficiency occurred in 28 out of 30 considered years (93 % years). In the south-eastern region, precipitation deficiency occurred in 21 years (70 % of years).Keywords : irrigation, evapotranspiration, reclamation, seedling survival, water requirements. IntroductionElderberry (also called medicinal lilac) is a popular plant used for centuries for medicinal purposes [1; 2]. Sometimes it is cultivated -as an ornamental shrub -also in parks and home gardens. High Elderberry planting -on the surface of the park or within a given garden -depends primarily on optimal water conditions that can be effectively shaped using properly programmed and operated microirrigation. However, this requires the necessary prior determination of the needs of water plants, especially in the first -decisive for the success of the plantings carried out -the period of growth of plants introduced into the area of a given park or garden.The objective of the present research was to estimate of the water needs of elderberry (Sambucusnigra L.) at the first three years of growing on reclaimed land in different regions of Poland.

Water needs of Sambucus nigra L. grown in the reclaimed areas in Poland

“…On average, in the years 1981-2010, throughout Poland, the water needs of elderberry trees in the June-July period rose by 6.1 mm in each subsequent ten-year interval (decade). In the previous study published by Rolbiecki et al (2018), the elderberry water needs throughout Poland during June and July, estimated for the first three years after planting in reclaimed areas (the first stage of reclamation), increased by 5.4 mm in each subsequent decade of the considered interval from 1981 to 2010. According to Rolbiecki et al (2018), from June 1 to July 31, in each decade of the thirty-year period, the increase in elderberry water needs ranged from 3.6 mm in the central-north-west region to 6.2 mm in the south-east region of Poland.…”

“…In the previous study published by Rolbiecki et al (2018), the elderberry water needs throughout Poland during June and July, estimated for the first three years after planting in reclaimed areas (the first stage of reclamation), increased by 5.4 mm in each subsequent decade of the considered interval from 1981 to 2010. According to Rolbiecki et al (2018), from June 1 to July 31, in each decade of the thirty-year period, the increase in elderberry water needs ranged from 3.6 mm in the central-north-west region to 6.2 mm in the south-east region of Poland. The difference between the water needs of young elderberry plants considered by Rolbiecki et al (2018) and the over three-year-old elderberry-trees studied presently, is the result of plant's age (Żakowicz, 2010).…”

“…According to Rolbiecki et al (2018), from June 1 to July 31, in each decade of the thirty-year period, the increase in elderberry water needs ranged from 3.6 mm in the central-north-west region to 6.2 mm in the south-east region of Poland. The difference between the water needs of young elderberry plants considered by Rolbiecki et al (2018) and the over three-year-old elderberry-trees studied presently, is the result of plant's age (Żakowicz, 2010). On average, during the two months of June and July of the years between 1981 and 2010, the highest water needs of elderberry trees, grown for more than three years in the reclaimed areas, were estimated for the C-N-W (264 mm) and C-E (262 mm) regions, whereas the lowest water needs (244 mm) were calculated for the S-E region of Poland (Fig.…”

“…In June, the highest total monthly water needs (119 mm) of elderberry trees were found in the S-W region, while the lowest (107 mm) in the S-E region of Poland. According to Rolbiecki et al (2018), in June and July, the highest water needs of elderberry plants in the first three years of growing after reclamation occurred in the C-N-W (232 mm) and C-E (230 mm) regions of Poland.…”

“…from June 1 to July 31, over a thirty -year interval (1981-2010), in different regions of Poland. The current studies are a continuation of the investigation published by Rolbiecki et al (2018), which analyzed the water needs of elderberry during the first three years after planting in the reclaimed areas.…”