Warunki przyrodnicze rolniczej przestrzeni produkcyjnej w ВОР (stan i przemiany w pierwszym etapie industriаIizacji)

Abstract

The area of the Bełchatów Industrial Region is characterized by relatively not very favour able agroecological conditions for intensive agricultural production. Restrictive elements include small amounts of precipitation, especially in the period of intensive crops growth, and too big shares of poor soils in classes V and VI (c a, 55%). On the other hand, thermic conditions and land configuration are favorable for agriculture. In the spatial lay-out, Piotrkow Trybunalski, and rural administrative communes of Grabica and Wola Krzysztoporska have the most favourable index of agricultural usefulness, while administrative comnunes of Kluki, Gomunice and Szczerców - the least favourable one. The investment project under construction causes visible transformations in the natural environment. Agricultural areas tend to shrink. Till the end of 1982, the brown coal mine absorbed an area of 3,076 ha of land (including 1,345 ha of arable land) and the power plant - 690 ha (mainly forests). New forms appear in the landscape, i.e. external dumping ground from the mine an ditch giving access to brown coaI deposits. In 1982, relative height of the dumping ground reached 113 m and depth of the ditch - 140 m. Mine drainage led to the lower ing of the underground waters level. A depression crater reached about 320 km in 1982. Withints coverage, a majority of shallow farm wells and small strearns went dry. In order to supply farms wi h water there is being expanded a network of rural water supply system. Its length amounted to 1,011 km in 1982. Drainage of underground waters causes changes in the soil environment. At the present initial investment stage, this phenomenon can be observed only on organic soils, mainly peat soils in regions where they can be found on permeable formations. Saturation humidity of surface layers of these soils has decreased significantly, which when accompanied by lack of possibilities of irrigation makes them useless as grass land. It cannot be ruled out that along with passage of time the process of degradation will encompass also other arable lands.