IMPORTANCE OF GEOTHERMAL WATER USING FOR GREENHOUSE HEATING IN TURKEY

Abstract

Total greenhouse area is about 49310.6 ha in Turkey. This area is one of the most important countries in greenhouse agriculture all over the world. However, the level of yield and quality in greenhouse crops is not enough. The mean reason of these must not been kept at the desired level of the climate of greenhouse in general. The biggest deficiency in the greenhouses ecology is the deficiency in heat value. Heating costs in greenhouse are generally very high in Turkey that has almost 50-80% in total production costs of greenhouses. Therefore, most farmers have used anti-frost greenhouses in vegetable crop production. Under cold climate conditions, the tolerance level of vegetables has decreased the biotic and abiotic stress factors, so yield and quality of crops reduce. To improve the yield and quality, higher fertilizers, pesticides and plant growth regulators have to be used by farmers.

By heating the greenhouses with geothermal water, friendship of environment, both yield and quality of the crops are improved while also residual problems of crops associated from all chemical applications reduce. The geothermal water supply is very rich in Turkey (more than 3000 water supplies) and one of the most economical sources in heating the greenhouses.

In this paper, therefore, the geothermal water potential of Turkey and possibly of its uses and effect of heating the greenhouses by geothermal water sources on yield and quality of vegetable crops were researched. In addition, the importance of geothermal water for suitable crops human health and sustainable environment were studied.