Experiences and prospects of Paisa management on the drained lands of the Ukrainian Polissia

Abstract

The results of field studies conducted on drained lands in the humid zone of Ukrainian Polissia during the period 2016–2024 have determined the technological parameters of water management (groundwater levels and soil moisture in the root zone) for growing high-yielding forage crops of paisa on peat and mineral soils. Permissible terms have been established for the drainage system to ensure the removal of excess water and timely reduction of groundwater levels to recommended levels. It has been identified that modern climate changes in the Polissia Ecozone of Ukraine manifest in uneven distribution of precipitation during the growing season, anomalous fluctuations in average daily air temperature, and minimal nighttime air temperatures (<10 °C) in the summer period, which impact agricultural production, especially the cultivation of heat-loving crops. Under such meteorological conditions, however, with optimal drainage regimes, the yield of paisa, a heat-loving crop by biological characteristics, was the lowest in 2019 compared to the period of 2016–2018, regardless of fertilization variants. It has been determined that in the conditions of climate change, characterized by exacerbated drought phenomena in the Polissia Ecozone of Ukraine, it is necessary to anticipate the accumulation of sufficient water volumes for irrigation of cultivated crops during dry periods of the growing season and to maintain optimal water management parameters on reclaimed lands by utilizing the water-retaining capacity of reclaimed territories and available surface water resources located outside drainage systems. Long-term trend analysis shows decreasing precipitation and rising air temperature, indicating climate stress conditions