|
Status of greenhouses in
Eastern Mediterranean coastal areas of Turkey
Derya Onder
Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department
of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, 31034 Hatay,
Turkey. E-mail:
deryaonder2007@gmail.com.
Tel: +90 326 2455599; Fax: +90 326 2455832.
Abbreviations: PE,
Polyethylene; UV, Ultraviolet; IR, infrared.
Accepted
6 April, 2009 |
|
The
study was carried out in greenhouses at Eastern
Mediterranean coastal areas of Turkey in Samandag area of
Hatay province where greenhouse production is wide spread.
The work undertaken in 2007 aimed at determining general
management problems, structural features and weaknesses and
climate control of greenhouses owned by villagers, having
only small holdings barely adequate for supporting their
families. 97 greenhouses in 48 holdings were evaluated. Only
one greenhouse was glass and the rest was plastic covered.
The greenhouses with an area of greater than 1000 square
meter were 32%. Regarding roof structures, 63.9% was of
arch, 34.0% shallow arch and the remaining 2.1% was of
gothic. The single glasshouse that existed in the area had
saddle roof. The roof structures did not generally have
adequate slopes. The plastic cover material used was mostly
PE (79%) with inclusion of UV+IR. Heating of the greenhouses
was only for frost protection purpose which adversely
affected crop yields and quality. Only 2% of the greenhouses
present in the area was constructed based on projects of
engineering designs; the remaining were simply of palliative
construction with no expert input. They were usually
constructed by growers themselves. Interviews with growers
showed that they were quite knowledgeable on best management
greenhouse practices; however, the economic constraints
prevent them from using and adopting new greenhouse
technologies. There was only one greenhouse where soilless
practice was used. The survey work showed that major
improvements regarding types, construction, climate control
of greenhouses and crop production methods were essential to
improve greenhouse production in the area.
Key
words:
Greenhouse, climate control, greenhouse construction. |
