Mortar. For now, the rice growers of Lomellina and Pavese are smiling at the positive trend in the accumulation of water resources while the submergence operation of the rice fields is underway. The overall indicator of the irrigation alarm scale is equal to 4 out of a maximum of 15: this is certified by Alberto Lasagna, director of Confagricoltura Pavia, in the periodic analysis of water in the agricultural sector. Worth noting is the positive trend of the water table. «It is in a phase of fundamental stability – explains Lasagna – at levels clearly higher than the last two years with a greater accumulation that remains above 50 centimeters compared to the measurements on the same date. The aquifer, also thanks to the exceptional rainfall in February and March, will resume its rising phase once widespread irrigation activity begins in the Lomellino-Vercelli-Novara rice-growing triangle”.
Lake Maggiore, from which the Ticino river emerges, continues to discharge flows consistently: specifically, the hydrometric level remains around 125 centimetres. «The scenario is overall positive – continues Lasagna – The ongoing trajectory of temperature rise will compromise snow accumulation earlier than in the last decade: in any case the overall accumulation conditions present at the start of the irrigation season are the best that have been achieved they could wait given the situation in January.
The copious late winter rainfall led to an overall reversal of the trend.” However, the temperature fluctuations of recent days are worrying, with differentials close to 30 degrees in just seven days.
