News Drought
Alarm bells are ringing early because of the drought
The current precipitation deficit is one of the highest ever recorded this early in the spring. With irrigation bans as a result. However, it is not only related to the lack of precipitation, it seems to be a recurring problem.
The spring work is not even finished when we are already experiencing a huge precipitation shortage. Although crops such as potatoes and winter cereals are still not affected by the drought, growers are certainly concerned when they face the weather forecast. This shortage is not easily replenished, especially when you realize that the summer has yet to come, when the precipitation shortage almost always increases.
Proportional to 1976
This spring is in line with the five driest years since the start of the measurements in 1906 and runs parallel with the record drought year of 1976. The national average precipitation deficit is already 60 millimeters and with the weather forecast for the next 14 days this deficit will increase. to about 100 millimeters. That gives the drought monitor from the KNMI clearly again.
If this trend continues, the summer will be dry for the fourth time in five years. In any case, that trend will continue for the next 14 days. In addition, the mercury will rise above 20 degrees after the weekend, which will further increase evaporation. That is also one of the reasons why the Brabantse Delta Water Board has introduced an irrigation ban to prevent desiccation in these areas. It is still early in the year and this is of great importance in order to prevent greater damage later this summer, according to the water board. More irrigation bans in other areas cannot therefore be ruled out in the coming period.
Drain the Netherlands king in water
In the Netherlands, officially we still have a precipitation surplus instead of a deficit. However, the Netherlands has become a bit too fast in discharging water, explains Ruud Bartholomeus of the KWR Water Research Institute: "In the Netherlands we have to discharge part of the water due to the precipitation surplus, but these days that drainage is going too fast. In the spring we retain more water and also longer, which increases our buffer. That also means that we have wetter conditions for longer, but that way we can hold out better in the dry periods."
Another cause is the intensity and the period in which the precipitation falls. "On average there is even more precipitation, but relatively more in the cold months and less in the warm months. That while evaporation actually increases in that warm period. This only increases the shortage." Although the water level finally seemed to have been replenished last year, according to Bartholomeus, things are different. "Too much water comes and goes quickly. But if there has been a shortage, it can take years before the groundwater levels have recovered. The surface water level appears to be OK, but the groundwater is not."
Another difficult start
Growers still remember last season's cool and wet weather, but this drought is also not pleasant. For example, tillage is not always easy and many growers saw problems arising due to crust formation and dried seed on the recently sown plots. As a result, the position of seed onions has already taken a considerable blow and the sugar beets are also not in good condition everywhere. For example, Cosun Beet Company reported today (May 4) that 2.400 hectares sown mainly because of the crusting. By comparison, the last time that happened was in 2003.
Although there is a rainfall deficit nationwide, the need for moisture appears to be higher in the south than the north. The crops in the south, which are slightly more developed, require more moisture than the other parts of the country. There has also been less precipitation in the south compared to other areas at the beginning of April.
Jesse Torringa
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