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abstract 746

WATER USE IN GREENHOUSES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Author(s): Meir Teitel, Sevilay Topcu
Corresponding Author: Dr. Meir TEITEL, E-mail: grteitel@volcani.agri.gov.il Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O.Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, ISRAEL. Prof. Dr. Sevilay TOPCU, Cukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of

Keyword(s): Greenhouses, Crop Water Use, Protected Cultivation, Irrigation

Article:
Poster:

Session: Poster session 4

AbstractGreenhouse cultivation has extended significantly in the Mediterranean region such that the

total growing areas in this region is more than 200000 ha. Worldwide including Mediterranean countries, agricultural

sector consumes about two thirds of all fresh water with relative low water use efficiency. Moreover, in

Mediterranean coastal areas like in Turkey, Spain and Israel with increasing water demands (including as a

consequence of global climate changes), intensive agriculture, tourism and other sectors are competing for scarce

water resources. Therefore evaluation of water use efficiency including water productivity is going to be a

prerequisite for any future water and food production policy in the Mediterranean countries. Achieving high water

use efficiency in greenhouse production is possible by exerting optimal control of both environmental parameters

within the greenhouse and cultural practices, which will both eventually lead higher yield and less water use. Research

on greenhouse water management has mainly focused on identifying the best technology to fulfill plant water

requirements. The results have lead to the development of techniques such as hydroponics, and soiless culture with

closed-loop water systems. These advanced systems where applied water is commonly controlled by a computer to

minimize soil evaporative losses are used in the glasshouses of northern Europe and Israel. However, in other

Mediterranean countries like Turkey, irrigation in greenhouses is mainly scheduled according to farmer’s experience,

despite the water scarcity. Present study briefly reviews the techniques used in greenhouses for water saving. It

provides information on water use and water productivity of different crops in Mediterranean greenhouses. It

specifically describes experiments that were done with a rose crop in a greenhouse with a closed-loop water system

in which the effect of climate parameters on transpiration was investigated in Israel.

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WATER USE IN GREENHOUSES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION