CURRENT STATE OF IRRIGATION IN THE KHERSON STEPPE ZONE OF UKRAINE AND IN KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE PROVINCE IN POLAND

Abstract

In various regions of the world you will find areas with low precipitation and high water deficits in soil in terms of field plant production. Examples of such areas are the Kherson region in Ukraine and the Kujawsko-Pomorskie province, especially the Kujawy region, in Poland. The Kakhovka Irrigation System in the Kherson region of Ukraine is the largest irrigation system in Europe. In 2015 it facilitated irrigating about 220 thousand ha. of farmland. Some limitation in the use of that system for enhancing soil productivity comes from the water quality. In the Kujawsko-Pomorskie province, Poland, which covers about 1 mln ha. of agricultural land, direct irrigation is performed on about 12 thousand ha. An improvement in soil moisture is seen through increasing water retention in the habitat by limiting water outflow.