The global challenge of water scarcity, particularly in agriculture, demands urgent attention due to the overexploitation of water resources and the escalating impacts of climate change. This study focuses on the unique challenges faced by Poland, experiencing increasing concerns related to droughts. It explores the utilization of supplemental irrigation, specifically in the context of Central Europe, where a distinctive approach known as supplemental irrigation is employed. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable water management practices and investigates the potential of small water retention measures (SWRMs), such as ponds and drainage water management, as solutions to enhance water availability in agriculture. A macro-scale water balance study is conducted using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to estimate spatio-temporal variability of water demand for supplemental irrigation in Poland. The highest demand, approximately 2.5 billion m3 (for arable lands) and 1.3 billion m3 (for grasslands), occurred during the exceptionally dry year of 2015, characterized by severe agricultural drought effects. The study also assesses the efficiency of SWRMs in meeting irrigation demands at national level. The results highlight a paradox in their effectiveness during critical periods, specifically in dry years when water demands are the highest. The outcomes of the model experiment underscored concerns about the insufficiency of meeting the water needs of irrigated agriculture solely through the construction of small retention facilities during very dry years. The outcomes of this research contribute to a better understanding of irrigation water demands in temperate climate region, support evidence-based practices for sustainable water management, and inform policymakers and stakeholders involved in water governance.

中文翻译：

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实现波兰的可持续农业用水管理 – 如何满足补充灌溉的用水需求？


由于水资源的过度开发和气候变化的影响不断升级，全球水资源短缺的挑战，尤其是农业方面的挑战，亟需得到紧急关注。本研究重点关注波兰面临的独特挑战，该国对干旱的担忧日益增加。它探讨了补充灌溉的利用，特别是在中欧的背景下，那里采用了一种称为补充灌溉的独特方法。该研究强调了可持续水资源管理实践的必要性，并调查了小型保水措施 （SWRM） 的潜力，例如池塘和排水管理，作为提高农业用水可用性的解决方案。使用土壤和水评估工具 （SWAT） 进行了一项宏观尺度的水平衡研究，以估计波兰补充灌溉用水需求的时空变化。最高需求约为 25 亿 m3（耕地）和 13 亿 m3（草原），发生在 2015 年异常干旱的年份，其特点是严重的农业干旱影响。该研究还评估了 SWRM 在满足国家层面灌溉需求方面的效率。结果凸显了它们在关键时期的有效性存在一个悖论，特别是在用水需求最高的干旱年份。模型实验的结果强调了对在非常干旱的年份仅通过建造小型蓄水设施来满足灌溉农业用水需求不足的担忧。 这项研究的结果有助于更好地了解温带气候地区的灌溉用水需求，支持可持续水管理的循证实践，并为参与水治理的政策制定者和利益相关者提供信息。