**1. Introduction**

Drought is commonly defined as below-usual water availability [1–3]. Even though drought is commonly associated with arid regions [4], it can also occur in more humid regions [5], which has been confirmed by climate models from various authors [6, 7]. Short-term drought periods (lasting for days or months) usually do not cause permanent or substantial environmental issues in humid areas; however, they can still be reflected on a seasonal agricultural production. Furthermore, if drought periods would last longer (for years or even decades), a negative impact on both the environment and the socioeconomic circumstances of the region can undoubtedly be expected. Agricultural crop production is particularly dependent on precipitation and therefore sensitive to the appearance of drought. Climate change predictions include uncharacteristic drought periods which besides the

#### *Drought - Detection and Solutions*

limited water availability for plants can also have a detrimental effect on other soil organisms (e.g., microbes) [8] and indirectly influence plant growth and development by restricting nutrient availability in soil. Thus, drought periods may lead to an overall decreased fertility of soils. Furthermore, prolonged dry conditions in soil may increase the susceptibility of soil to wind erosion, that is, frequent and severe drought periods can reduce the plant cover and expose the soil to wind, resulting in erosion and desertification [9].

Although drought periods are not unusual for the coastal parts of Croatia, in the last several decades, they have become more frequent and long-lasting, for example [10] and recently are even recorded in the continental parts of the country [11]. This is also confirmed by this hydrological study in the area of the Biđ-Bosut field, an area of 7200 ha of agricultural soil for which the construction of the Biđ field irrigation canal is planned (**Figure 1**). During the monitoring (2003–2018), significant changes of water regime, as well as soil and water management difficulties were recorded in the agricultural part of the studied area. For example, agricultural soils showed a noticeable lowering of groundwater levels, and this negative trend showed a tendency of becoming even more rapid in the future.

In the studied area, the unfavorable annual distribution of precipitation, the absence of snow cover during winter, and the rising of air temperature, all are contributing to drying conditions in agricultural soils, thus already negatively affecting local agricultural production, that is, crop rotation is becoming more and more simplified, the germination and sprouting of crops are impaired by the lack of precipitation, the yield is weather-dependent and unstable, and economic projections are frequently unreliable. Understanding of the changes in the soil water regime

**95**

*Agricultural Management Strategies for Countering Drought Conditions in Eastern Croatia*

is of major importance for selecting the appropriate strategies for the drought risk management in agricultural systems and countering the harmful effects of climate

In this chapter, climatic and hydrological data from the Biđ-Bosut field agricultural area are presented, with a description of practical strategies which could, at least to a certain extent, alleviate the negative impact of drought on the agricultural production. One of such strategies is the installation of irrigation systems, which imposes as a relatively obvious or a simple solution, but it is not traditionally applied in agricultural production in the eastern continental Croatia, mostly because until recently drought was non-occurring or the occurrence was mostly of a relatively short duration and/or of mild intensity and because the initial cost of implementing the irrigation systems may be considered high. However, if drought periods should occur during sensitive crop developmental stages (e.g., sprouting) or extend during prolonged periods, implementing the irrigation systems could prove to be extremely beneficial for the local agriculture, as well as cost-effective in the aftermath of plant production. The fundamental basis for introducing the irrigation systems in this area was met by proceeding with the construction of the irrigation canal in 2018. However, even though the use of irrigation is a possible solution for plant production under drought conditions [13], it is by no means the only action which should be taken, especially considering that water is not an unlimited resource. Thus, the existing network of drainage canals, built in the 1960s and 1970s, could with certain modifications be used to maintain the groundwater level and contribute to the total amount of water available for irrigation. Also, the proper selection of crops and management techniques can help to facilitate plant production and, keeping the before-mentioned in mind, contribute to alleviating the negative impacts of drought on agricultural

**2. Climate and water regime monitoring in the studied area**

Climate and water regime monitoring at the Biđ-Bosut field started in 2003, with the aim of determining the impact of the irrigation canal construction on the groundwater dynamics and the surrounding agroecosystem. From the preliminary tracking of initial conditions, the monitoring evolved into a very valuable source of information with the majority of relevant agroecological data regarding the surface water, groundwater, leachate, as well as the agricultural soils in the studied area recorded. For tracking the groundwater dynamics, 50 shallow (up to 4 m of depth) and 5 deep (up to 15 m of depth) piezometers and 5 limnigraphs (up to 4 m of depth) were used. Measurements using the piezometers were done manually (by measuring tape) every 10 days, while the limnigraphs (Orpheus Mini) recorded

The monitoring area is located at intersect between a semiarid into a semihumid moderate continental climate [14]. Meteorological data were analyzed for 2003–2018 and collected from the nearest meteorological station, the national meteorological station Gradište (45°09′ N; 18°42′ E). Data regarding the Sava river, to which the irrigation canal is connected, were taken from the Sava-Slavonski Šamac national measurement station for the years 2014–2018. The values are given on a monthly basis and are also transformed into annual values

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88503*

change [12].

production.

groundwater levels daily.

for easier following.

*Agricultural Management Strategies for Countering Drought Conditions in Eastern Croatia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88503*

is of major importance for selecting the appropriate strategies for the drought risk management in agricultural systems and countering the harmful effects of climate change [12].

In this chapter, climatic and hydrological data from the Biđ-Bosut field agricultural area are presented, with a description of practical strategies which could, at least to a certain extent, alleviate the negative impact of drought on the agricultural production. One of such strategies is the installation of irrigation systems, which imposes as a relatively obvious or a simple solution, but it is not traditionally applied in agricultural production in the eastern continental Croatia, mostly because until recently drought was non-occurring or the occurrence was mostly of a relatively short duration and/or of mild intensity and because the initial cost of implementing the irrigation systems may be considered high. However, if drought periods should occur during sensitive crop developmental stages (e.g., sprouting) or extend during prolonged periods, implementing the irrigation systems could prove to be extremely beneficial for the local agriculture, as well as cost-effective in the aftermath of plant production. The fundamental basis for introducing the irrigation systems in this area was met by proceeding with the construction of the irrigation canal in 2018. However, even though the use of irrigation is a possible solution for plant production under drought conditions [13], it is by no means the only action which should be taken, especially considering that water is not an unlimited resource. Thus, the existing network of drainage canals, built in the 1960s and 1970s, could with certain modifications be used to maintain the groundwater level and contribute to the total amount of water available for irrigation. Also, the proper selection of crops and management techniques can help to facilitate plant production and, keeping the before-mentioned in mind, contribute to alleviating the negative impacts of drought on agricultural production.

### **2. Climate and water regime monitoring in the studied area**

Climate and water regime monitoring at the Biđ-Bosut field started in 2003, with the aim of determining the impact of the irrigation canal construction on the groundwater dynamics and the surrounding agroecosystem. From the preliminary tracking of initial conditions, the monitoring evolved into a very valuable source of information with the majority of relevant agroecological data regarding the surface water, groundwater, leachate, as well as the agricultural soils in the studied area recorded. For tracking the groundwater dynamics, 50 shallow (up to 4 m of depth) and 5 deep (up to 15 m of depth) piezometers and 5 limnigraphs (up to 4 m of depth) were used. Measurements using the piezometers were done manually (by measuring tape) every 10 days, while the limnigraphs (Orpheus Mini) recorded groundwater levels daily.

The monitoring area is located at intersect between a semiarid into a semihumid moderate continental climate [14]. Meteorological data were analyzed for 2003–2018 and collected from the nearest meteorological station, the national meteorological station Gradište (45°09′ N; 18°42′ E). Data regarding the Sava river, to which the irrigation canal is connected, were taken from the Sava-Slavonski Šamac national measurement station for the years 2014–2018. The values are given on a monthly basis and are also transformed into annual values for easier following.

*Drought - Detection and Solutions*

erosion and desertification [9].

in the future.

limited water availability for plants can also have a detrimental effect on other soil organisms (e.g., microbes) [8] and indirectly influence plant growth and development by restricting nutrient availability in soil. Thus, drought periods may lead to an overall decreased fertility of soils. Furthermore, prolonged dry conditions in soil may increase the susceptibility of soil to wind erosion, that is, frequent and severe drought periods can reduce the plant cover and expose the soil to wind, resulting in

Although drought periods are not unusual for the coastal parts of Croatia, in the last several decades, they have become more frequent and long-lasting, for example [10] and recently are even recorded in the continental parts of the country [11]. This is also confirmed by this hydrological study in the area of the Biđ-Bosut field, an area of 7200 ha of agricultural soil for which the construction of the Biđ field irrigation canal is planned (**Figure 1**). During the monitoring (2003–2018), significant changes of water regime, as well as soil and water management difficulties were recorded in the agricultural part of the studied area. For example, agricultural soils showed a noticeable lowering of groundwater levels, and this negative trend showed a tendency of becoming even more rapid

In the studied area, the unfavorable annual distribution of precipitation, the absence of snow cover during winter, and the rising of air temperature, all are contributing to drying conditions in agricultural soils, thus already negatively affecting local agricultural production, that is, crop rotation is becoming more and more simplified, the germination and sprouting of crops are impaired by the lack of precipitation, the yield is weather-dependent and unstable, and economic projections are frequently unreliable. Understanding of the changes in the soil water regime

*The monitoring area (2003–2018) of the Biđ-Bosut field presented with the indication of used field equipment.*

**94**

**Figure 1.**
