Polish source article: https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/gus-bije-na-alarm-w-polsce-postepuje-zakwaszenie-ziemi-6584093087185632a
The soil in Poland is becoming more and more barren. Already 69 percent. agricultural land in Poland has been considered to be highly acidified, the Central Statistical Office reported. This results in lower yields for farmers, favours further degradation of agricultural land and contamination of groundwater with agricultural fertilizers.
In the report “Environmental Protection 2020”, the Central Statistical Office provided new data on the dangerously progressing phenomenon of soil acidification in Poland. From 60 to 80 percent. agricultural land in the province. Podlaskie and Podkarpackie voivodeships were considered to be strongly acidified. In the scale of the whole country, 69 percent of agricultural land requires spreading of lime, which reduces acidification.
“Soil acidification in Poland is one of the most important factors limiting plant production. Both climatic and soil conditions as well as human activity contribute to it” – emphasizes in the GUS report.
The earth acidification phenomenon is progressing by a few percentage points each year. This is confirmed by the analysis of thousands of soil samples collected every year from the fields. The acidification of the soil is caused, among others, by intensive agricultural activity, such as the cultivation of the same types of cereals or rape or maize every year, until the soil is depleted.
The acidified soil in Poland. It cannot be fixed
- The problem cannot be fixed in a year or even five years. If we wanted to do anything, millions of tons of lime would have to be scattered on the fields – comments Grzegorz Siebielec from the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Puławy in an interview with WP.
- It is important for farmers to be aware that they should pour lime on the fields every year. At the moment, the need for such actions results from many years of neglect. From 2019, we have a subsidy program of the Ministry of Agriculture for the purchase of lime for farmers. It is difficult for me to judge how popular it is – he adds.
Poor water quality in lakes and rivers
As indicated by the Central Statistical Office, soil acidification reduces yields and plant health. Experts add that weakened plants are not able to use the fertilizers they feed. As a result, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers get into the groundwater, later polluting lakes and rivers. This results in more frequent blooms of cyanobacteria during summer and poorer water clarity.
In the same report, the Central Statistical Office informed about the catastrophic assessment of water quality in lakes and rivers. Out of 4,585 samples, only 50 were rated good.
