Influence of biological additives on soil moisture dynamics in the context of climate change

Abstract

In recent years, climate change trends specific to the world’s regions have been observed in Lithuania. Droughts and torrential rains are increasingly being recorded, causing long-term waterlogging. As Lithuania is an agrarian country, the horticulture sector is developed. Abundant growers of potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables are counted in years. It is estimated that the consumption of potatoes in Lithuania is more than 96 kg per capita per year. However, potatoes, which are grown by the majority of crop farms, suffer most from frequent natural droughts. To lower droughts influence, farmers can install irrigation systems or use biological additives in the field, such as agroperlite and agrovermiculite. The experiment was conducted at the two experimental farms in Lithuania, growing ‘Vineta’ potatoes. The aim of the study was to determine the dynamics of soil moisture in May-August, when different amounts (effects of different percentages) of biological additives are added to the soil. In 2020, the amount of precipitation varied during the research period. During the whole period in Pupasodis fields precipitation was 234 mm. During observed period, 77% of all decades were drier than perennials (DNs). In Šilavotas fields, it was found that 351.5 mm of precipitation fell during the observed period, which is 164.3 mm more than in the Pupasodis area. The distance between experiment plots was more than 70 km. The study results show that soil temperature correlates with exponential dependence with precipitation. The correlation coefficient r = 0.69, and when assessing the relationship between soil temperature and ambient temperature, a linear dependence and R = 0.5649 were found.