Hesse drought: Soil moisture hits record low, crops and gardens suffer as no rain is in sight

Record low soil moisture

Soil moisture in the upper 60 centimetres across Hesse is far below the seasonal norm, with central and southern areas hit hardest. In South Hesse, values are in some places the lowest ever recorded for this time of year in the 1991–2020 reference period, according to DWD agricultural meteorologist Andreas Brömser. Brown grasslands and stressed trees and shrubs are the visible signs. June was already much too dry, and July is following the same pattern, the DWD says.

Wenn man sich die Bodenfeuchte der oberen 60 Zentimeter anschaut, dann sind wir in Hessen weit unter dem, was jetzt um diese Jahreszeit üblich ist.

No substantial rain is forecast, and temperatures are now rising again. The heat accelerates evaporation and dries out the soils even further, Brömser explains. He says a whole month's worth of precipitation falling as steady light rain over a few days would be ideal, but such an event is not on the horizon.

Gardens and orchards under strain

Hesse's gardens are increasingly suffering from the combination of drought, heat and intense solar radiation. Gerd Bergmann of the Hessian Garden Academy reports that fruit yields are sharply down because of sunburn. Unusual anomalies are appearing more frequently: fruits doubling, and buds sprouting from the centre of already open blossoms.

Das haben wir vorher noch nie in der Form gehabt.

Bergmann warns that secondary damage of the kind long seen in forests will also worsen in home gardens. Tree trunks are becoming so hot that they crack, and the cracks serve as entry points for diseases. Pests such as bark beetles are an increasing problem because plants weakened by drought can no longer defend themselves.

Field crops and fodder concerns

The Hessian Farmers' Association reports growing drought stress in soils, especially in South Hesse and parts of central and eastern Hesse. Maize and sugar beets are showing visible drought damage. Spokesperson Marie-Claire von Spee says these crops urgently need rain to salvage anything. Legumes like field peas and broad beans have also suffered under the high temperatures, and winter wheat is showing effects on grain quality in particular.

Für diese Kulturen braucht es dringend Regen, um etwas zu retten.

The development of grassland is causing increasing worry about fodder supply. The association's outlook underscores that without significant rainfall soon, the agricultural toll will mount further.