NEWS: ECOBASE SOIL FACT: IMPACT OF FLOODS ON FARMLAND IN SLOVENIA

In Slovenia, in 2023, the estimated damage to crops alone from catastrophic floods amounted to EUR 9 million. The average soil loss due to erosion, which is mainly influenced by water in our country, is estimated at sevent/ha/year in Slovenia, placing our country in second place in terms of erosion risk among countries in Europe. The consequences of excessive amounts of water on agricultural land are reflected in soil impoverishment and pollution, loss of biodiversity and reduced fertility of agricultural land. Floods result in reduced or completely destroyed agricultural crops, increased costs and lowerprofitability of agricultural production. Floods cause significant and often irreversible damage to agricultural production, also leave lasting consequences on agricultural land.Floods can have very different effects on agricultural land, depending on the intensity and duration of the flood, the type of agricultural activity, land use, season and flood water quality. Floods cause direct and indirect damage to agricultural land. After floods, agricultural land often needs to be remediated. Since Slovenia has a small amount of agricultural land per capita, careful protection of agricultural land, maintenance of its quality and preservation of its production potential are even more important. Fertile agricultural land is the basis for the production of healthy, locally produced and safe food for people and animal feed.

Figure: Flooded agricultural land (Source: KGZPTUJ)