WATER AND IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS OF FIELD CROPS GROWN IN CENTRAL VOJVODINA, SERBIA

Abstract

Amount and distribution of precipitation and mean daily air temperatures were analyzed in the period of 30 years in Baki Petrovac, situated in the vicinity of Novi Sad, central Vojvodina. Increase in mean daily air temperatures was recorded during the whole vegetation period, 5.7% on average compared to the previous period . According to the water balance used as the basis for drought estimation, regular and increased deficit in plantavailable water was observed mainly in July and August, despite the recorded sum of precipitation equal to or slightly higher than the previously obtained average. High oscillations of field crop yields, mainly due to different weather conditions in specific growing seasons, had been observed across the growing years. Average yields recorded in the period 2006-2014 for most significant field crops -maize, sugar beet, sunflower and soybean, were higher compared to the previous period by 2.16%, 17.81%, 19.39% and 38.71%, respectively. Average yields in Republic of Serbia were as follows: maize 5.19 t ha -1 , sugar beet 46.42t ha -1 , sunflower 2.34t ha -1 , and soybean 2.58t ha -1 . The yields varied between 12.09% and 24.49%. Analyzed meteorological data indicate the need for irrigation, which would maintain and improve soil fertility, regulate soil water and nutrient regime, and thus provide the basis for a more successful plant production.