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ABSTRACT:
In 2003 the total agricultural land in Croatia was 55.6% of the total mainland area which includes arable land and gardens, orchards, olive-groves, vineyards, meadows and pastures. A large part of this agricultural land is not used due to the landmines. In 2005, 26.39% of agricultural land was suspected to be contaminated by explosives while in 2007, utilized agricultural land in Croatia was about 21% of the total mainland area.
According to the data of 2010, agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing contribute around 7% to GDP, 10% to employment and 13% to merchandise exports in Croatia. The share of agricultural in the total population of Croatia dropped from 8.56% in 1991 to 5.54% in 2001.
So, its noticeable that it was only 0.86% of arable land was irrigated in Croatia in 2003. The national irrigation project, foresees the construction of irrigation systems on an area totaling of 35,000 in the period between 2006 and 2010. Maize and wheat production dominates on approximately 50% of total arable land. Livestock breeding has a share of approximately 44% in the value of agricultural production. Industrial crops such as sugar beet, oiled rape and sunflowers are so important.
Vulnerabilities:
Lowland Croatia,
In lowland Croatia the annual number of days with a temperature above 5°C will be higher in 2100 than in 2011 by between 35 and 84 days. It can be assumed that the sowing of spring crops will commence at an earlier date and, depending on the possibility of providing sufficient irrigation water, the growing period will last longer. Yields will be constrained by the length of the growing period, the provision of sufficient water for intensified transpiration, and possible crop damage due to early spring frosts and excessively high temperatures in summer. Winter crops will have more favorable conditions for growth and development, thus some increases in yield can be expected. In such conditions, however, considerable problems may occur in terms of weed, disease and pest control.
Spring crops will suffer from water deficiency in the summer months and, without the provision of sufficient water for irrigation, in some years yields might be substantially reduced due to droughts. Besides irrigation, the adverse effects of water deficiency can also be avoided by the application of adequate Tillage systems for a given region, and by the choice of appropriate sowing dates and seed.
(Tillage system is basically agricultural preparation of soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shoveling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking.)whereas, in winter yields may be reduced due to water stress by 29, 37 and 46% for early-, mid- and late-maturing genotypes respectively. In Croatia, relatively often, lower yields are obtained when periods of drought are recorded in the various growing phases of winter wheat. The lower production of corn in Croatia is very often associated with dry periods during corn vegetation, especially in the most sensitive development stages.
(Genotype; the genotype is the part of the genetic makeup of a cell, and therefore of an organism or individual, which determines a specific characteristic of that cell/organism/individual.)
Analyses of soil water balance for lowland Croatia indicate that the temperature increase foreseen by the models will cause higher evapotranspiration. Although increased precipitation is foreseen as well, it will not suffice to compensate for water evaporation by combined processes of evaporation and transpiration. For this reason, the probability of dry periods in summer months will be increased, which will have an essential influence on yield decrease unless enough water is provided for spring crops. The example of water balance for lowland Croatia allows the assumption that the summer water deficiency will increase by 30 to 60% by the year 2100.
Adaptation strategies:
- The development of new varieties and hybrids suitable for intensive production under abiotic stress conditions;
- Increased flexibility in crop rotation, with the introduction of new crops and different hybrids or varieties of the same crop in particular production areas;
- Effective plant protection measures to combat weeds, pests and plant diseases;
- Fertilization and the application of soil improves;
- Improved drainage and irrigation;
- Change of timing of sowing and harvesting in different parts of Croatia, based on cardinal temperatures;
- New areas become favorable for specific types of agricultural production, and at the same time some existing agricultural regions in Croatia will be reduced or lost, primarily because of a shortage of water for irrigation.
New practices and new soil tillage methods that are adapted to the changed climate conditions. These include conservation tillage, no tillage and so-called adaptable soil tillage.
- "I have tried to summed up the most important features regarding risk management of agriculture in Croatia but didn't cover the solutions yet. I am looking forward to get more information about agriculture in Croatia. Please, leave your comment below and share your ideas!"
