ABSTRACT
Abbreviations: CEE Central and Eastern Europe EU European Union ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials EUR Euro PLN Złoty FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Due to global warming and the production of energy crops, water is expected to become scarce in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), a region of rain-fed agriculture. Therefore, there is a need to increase the efficiency of water use for crops in CEE. In the present paper, the growth, production and water use efficiency of energy crops in Poland was investigated. Using Poland as an example is justified by its role in CEE, and Polish experiences might be relevant for other Europeans, from the Baltic to Mediterranean Seas. Energy crops may use more water than other crops so their impact on water resources could be negative. The extensive use of water by the energy crops is an issue for our research.
