Unheated Greenhouse Conditions Research Articles

Impact of planting schemes on hot pepper varieties in greenhouses

This article delves into a comprehensive investigation aimed at identifying the optimal planting schemes for newly introduced hot pepper varieties that thrive under unheated greenhouse conditions. Specifically, the study evaluates the performance of three promising hot pepper varieties—“Sharq gavhari,” “Dilnoz 2019,” and “Niyat”—when subjected to a range of planting configurations (70x20, 70x30, 70x40, and 70x50 cm). The findings reveal a compelling relationship between planting density and fruit characteristics. In configurations that permitted a more spacious feeding area, the resulting fruits tended to be smaller, yet exhibited thicker flesh. Conversely, tighter planting arrangements produced taller plants with thinner fruits, which also corresponded with a decrease in pulp thickness. This nuanced understanding of how varying planting schemes influence not just yield but also the physical attributes of the fruit is critical for growers seeking to optimize production. Ultimately, this research provides valuable insights that can guide agricultural practices, ultimately enhancing both the quality and quantity of hot pepper harvests in unheated greenhouse settings. Such knowledge is vital for maximizing the potential of these varieties, thereby promoting better resource utilization and supporting sustainable agricultural development.

Effect of EC Levels of Nutrient Solution on Glasswort (Salicornia perennis Mill.) Production in Floating System

Halophytes have evolved to tolerate high salinity environments. The halophyte glasswort (Salicornia and Sarcocornia species) grows by the sea or in salty soils and can be consumed with pleasure. In this study, the cultivation of glasswort was studied by testing the effects of different electrical conductivity (EC) levels (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 mS cm−1) of a nutrient solution. Salicornia perennis Mill. was grown on floating systems in unheated greenhouse conditions. To adjust the different EC levels, sodium chloride was added to the Hoagland nutrient solution (EC: 2 mS cm−1). Plant growth and yield parameters, shoot color, evapotranspiration, and shoot nutrient content were determined. Among the tested EC levels, the highest plant height (33.56 cm), shoot (172.75 g) and root fresh weights (41.74 g), stem diameter (7.85 mm), and fresh biomass (2864.06 g m−2) were obtained from an EC level of 25 mS cm−1. There were no significant differences in shoot color excluding b* and chroma values. It was concluded that glasswort could be grown in hydroponic systems as a new crop and that an EC value of 25 mS cm−1 is the most appropriate for the cultivation of Salicornia perennis Mill. on floating systems.

Effect of Water Regime, Nitrogen Level, and Biostimulant Application on the Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Wild Rocket [Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC

The use of biostimulants in agriculture is an emerging technique that can contribute to improved production and resource use efficiency. This research was carried out in southern Italy to evaluate the biostimulating effects of seaweed extract (SW) and azoxystrobin (AZ) on wild rocket subjected to two water regimes (WRs) and three nitrogen levels (NLs), and grown in pots under unheated greenhouse conditions. The following treatments were compared: (i) two WRs: restoration of 100% (WR100) and 50% (WR50) of crop evapotranspiration; (ii) three NLs: 0 (N0), 75 (N75), or 150 (N150) kg ha−1 of N; and (iii) three biostimulants (BSs): an untreated control (C), and the application of AZ or SW. This paper reports the effects on N uptake (Nup), N use efficiency (NUE), and water use efficiency (WUE). The following indicators of NUE were assessed: apparent recovery efficiency (RE), internal utilization efficiency (IE), partial productivity factor (PFPn) of N supplied, agronomic efficiency (AE), and physiological efficiency (PE). The following indicators of WUE were assessed: photosynthetic WUE (p_WUE), yield WUE (Y_WUE), biomass WUE (B_WUE), and irrigation yield WUE (IY_WUE). The indicators of NUE were affected differently by treatments. RE was 20% higher with SW. IE was higher with AZ. PFPn increased by 10.4 and 8.1% with AZ and SW, respectively. AE increased by 10.9 and 19.9% after applying AZ and SW, respectively. PE rose by 6.7 and 9.3% after applying AZ and SW. AZ and SW improved p_WUE, mainly under water deficit (interaction of WR × BS). With AZ application, Y_WUE, B_WUE, and IY_WUE were higher by 17.8, 13.8, and 19.3%, respectively, while the application of SW resulted in a smaller increase (9.5–7.7 and 9.9%). SW and AZ were shown to be effective through the moderate improvement of wild rocket’s nitrogen and water use efficiency. The two biostimulants were more effective at improving p_WUE in water deficit conditions, proving to be particularly useful for farmers operating with water scarcity. Therefore, they can provide valuable support to farmers by improving the sustainability of resource use.

The characteristics of hill-drop and potting techniques for growing different bean varieties in the protected ground

The research has been conducted in the experimental greenhouses of Scientific Center of Vegetable and Industrial Crops, RA in 2020-2021. Bean varieties were grown without heating during the spring vegetation period. It has been empirically established that per all growing and development indices the best results have been recorded in the local bean varieties of Zepyur (control), Gohar, Ghapan variety-population and in the foreign variety White Ruler cultivated through potting and hill-drop technique. Throughout research activities it has been disclosed that in unheated greenhouse conditions (in the spring vegetation period) the application of pot planting method has been more feasible and effective than hill-drop planting (direct-seeded plants) technique, since the former technique promotes long-lasting fruiting of plants, development of a powerful root system, foliage improvement and, ultimately, a higher yield capacity (the yield surplus was 0.9-1.2 kg/m2).

Mitigation of Chilling Stress by Ozone Pretreatment and Acclimation of Sweet Pepper Grown under Unheated Greenhouse Conditions

Ozone is an important air pollutant that causes many challenges for human health, such as lung diseases. The negative impacts of exogenous ozone on cultivated plants have been discussed in several publications, but the positive impacts are less investigated. The current study is an attempt to answer the following question: is there any positive contribution of ozone pretreatment in growing plants under stress? Plants grown in unheated plastic greenhouses suffer from cold stress during the winter when the temperature drops to 5–10 °C. This stress can also be enhanced under saline soil conditions in arid regions. Treatments involving different ozone application methods (seed priming and seedling foliar application) and cold pretreatment (4 °C for 36 h) were compared with untreated controls of two sweet pepper hybrids (Zidenka and Lirica) in an unheated plastic greenhouse. In general, the Lirica hybrid outperformed the Zidenka hybrid in growth and fruit yield and showed good adaptation to cold stress resulting from ozone treatment through foliar application on seedlings. Moreover, cold treatment was associated with higher values of the studied parameters compared to the control (untreated). A concentration of 20 ppm of ozone in the first season and as 30 ppm of ozone in the second season increased plant leaf area, proline content, and APX activity, all of which improved the plant’s defense mechanisms against cold stress. These benefits contributed to high fruit sets; early, total, and marketable fruit yields; and fruit quality under cold stress. The highest yield (16.52 kg m−2) was attained with 30 ppm ozone applied as a seedling spray, compared with 10.07 kg m−2 in the control. Therefore, the foliar application of ozone up to 30 ppm can be recommended for sweet pepper hybrids of Lirica under unheated plastic greenhouse conditions. Further investigations are needed to study the interaction of combined ozone and cold stress, as well as various levels of soil salinity.

Effects of Irrigation Water Levels on Lettuce Yield and Water Use Efficiencies under Unheated Greenhouse Conditions

Effects of Irrigation Water Levels on Lettuce Yield and Water Use Efficiencies under Unheated Greenhouse Conditions

THE EFFECT OF PLANTING SCHEMES FOR VARIETIES OF HOT CHILI PEPPER ON THE YIELD OF PLANT IN UNHEATED GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS

This article reveals the results of the study on different planting schemes for Margilan 330, Uchkun and Tillarang varieties of hot chili peppers in unheated greenhouse conditions. According to the results of the study, the number of fruits was higher in 70x20 cm reduced variants of planting scheme, while in the variants planted in 70x50 cm scheme, the fruit weight increased even though the number of fruits was less.

Effect of levels organic fertilizers and kinds of Bio-feritilizers in characterical of two classes of Okra plant ( Abelmoschus esculentus L.) growning in the plastic house

The experiment was carried out for the agricultural season 2020-2021 under unheated greenhouse conditions at the Agricultural Research Station of the Department of Horticulture and Garden Engineering / College of Agriculture - University of Dhi Qar, studying the effect of levels of organic and biological fertilizers on the growth and yield of two okra varieties (Al-Hussainawi, Petra). The experiment was carried out with three factors: the first cultivar includes two okra cultivars (Al-Hussainawi A, Petra B), the second sheep manure with four levels O0 without addition, O1 (2.5 kg experimental unit), O2 (5 kg experimental unit) and O3 (7.5 kg experimental unit) and the third is a mixture of bio-fertilizer And at four levels: O0 without addition, A(Azo.) (Azotobacter chroococcum): at a concentration of 1.1×109, B(Pseu.): (Pseudomonas flourescens) at a concentration of 3.6×109 and C (Azo.+Pse.): (Azotobacter chroococcum + Pseudomonas flourescens) at a concentration. 4.7 × 109 The arithmetic averages were compared according to the LSD Least Significant Difference test at a probability level of 0.05. The results can be summarized as follows: It showed the superiority of the Husseinawi okra variety over the Petra okra variety in the leaf content of carbohydrates and phenols in the fruits, which amounted to (12.448 mg 100 gm-1, 2.132%). ) respectively. While the Petra cultivar was superior in the content of leaves of chlorophyll and a decrease in the content of the leaves of carotene and proline, it reached (69.615 mg 100 gm-1, 1.882 mg 100 gm-1, 190.0 microgram g-1). With regard to the organic fertilizer, the treatment O3 (7.5 kg experimental unit) for Al-Hussainawi variety was superior in the content of leaves of chlorophyll and phenols in the fruits, it amounted to (74,729 mg 100 gm-1, 2.742 %), while the Petra variety excelled in the content of carbohydrates and the low content of the leaves of carotene and proline. It reached (14,394 mg 100 g-1, 0.951 mg 100 g-1, 142.9 mcg g-1) respectively. As for the biofertilizer, the treatment C (Azo.+Pse.) was superior in the leaves content of chlorophyll and carbohydrates, and the leaves content of carotene, proline and phenols in the fruits was (72,555 mg 100 g-1, 13.683 mg 100 g-1, 0.974 mg 100 g-1, 156.7 micrograms g-1, 2.534%) respectively. As for the effect of the bilateral interaction between okra cultivars and biofertilizer types, the BC (Azo.+Pse.) treatment was superior to the chlorophyll content of leaves and the decrease in the leaves’ content of carotene and proline, it amounted to (72,996 mg 100 g-1, 0.762 mg 100 g-1, 136.2 micrograms g-1), while the AC (Azo.+Pse.) treatment excelled in the leaves content of carbohydrates and phenols in fruits, it reached (13.878 mg/100 gm-1, 2.576 %), respectively. The bilateral interaction between organic and biofertilizers showed the superiority of O3 C (Azo.+Pse.) treatment in the leaves content of chlorophyll and carbohydrates, and the decrease in the leaves’ content in carotene, proline and phenols in fruits, it amounted to (77,065 mg 100 g-1, 15.722 mg 100 g-1, 0.297 mg (100 gm-1, 121.6 mcg g-1, 3.4088%) respectively. The triple interactions showed a significant effect on most of the studied traits.

THE EFFECTS OF PARAFFIN AND PARAFILM APPLICATIONS AND DIFFERENT ROOTSTOCKS ON YIELD OF GRAFTED VINE IN ‘BLACK MAGIC’ GRAPE CULTIVAR

The scions belonging to 'Black Magic' grape cultivar were grafted on ‘41B’, ‘1103 P’, ‘Fercal’ and ‘SO4’ American rootstock cuttings using omega grafting method in the experiment. Paraffin was applied to one half of the grafted cuttings. The other half was wrapped with parafilm and then paraffin was applied. Grafted cuttings were planted in perlite medium at 3.0 x 3.5 cm intervals inside plastic buckets and kept in the stratification room for 4 weeks. Grafted cuttings, which had been maintained under room conditions for one week, were then grown for two months under unheated greenhouse conditions. In order to determine rootstock and application effects, bud burst ratio (%), callus formation rate (%), callus formation degree (0-4), rooting ratio (%), rooting degree (0-4), shoot length (cm), shoot diameter (mm) and grafted vine ratio (%) were examined. According to the results of the study, it was determined that paraffin+parafilm application yielded better results than paraffin application in terms of bud burst ratio (respectively 70.83%, 53.33%), callus formation ratio (respectively 83.75%, 69.58%) and yield of grafted-vines (respectively 68.33%, 51.67%). In terms of the rootstocks, bud burst ratio was determined to be the highest in SO4 rootstock (71.67%) and the lowest in Fercal (54.17%). 1103 P rootstock yielded a highest value than other rootstocks in terms of shoot length (26.17 cm), callus rate at grafting surface (88.33%), and rooting ratio (97.50%). The effect of rootstocks on shoot diameter, rooting degree, and grafted vine ratio was found to be similar.

The concept of introduction and breeding of non-traditional vegetable plants in Siberia

The introduction of new vegetable crops in the harsh climate of Siberia presupposes the evaluation of resistance to environmental factors (long day, low temperatures, fungal diseases etc.) limiting the growth of plants, using pre-breeding methods.The studies were carried out in the outdoor and unheated plastic greenhouse conditions of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden (CSBS), Novosibirsk (54 ° N 83 ° E) and in the outdoor and the conditions of phytotron of the N.I.Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). We used a large collection of species accessions belonging to families Leguminosae, Cucurbitaceae and Brassicaceae. It is proposed to use the taxonomically important, stable traits and other features that affect the possibility of scaling up the cultivation of crops in Siberia. Sequential assessment, e. g. asparagus bean includes evaluation of resistance to a long day, cold resistance in the phase of mature male gametophyte in vitro, the composition of pathogenic micromycetes, and the resistance of accessions to them. Also, it is offered to use the symbiotic systems, including the effective strains of Bradyrhizobium sp. and high-yield cultivars with a neutral response to day length and low variation in biochemical composition, for example, the cultivar ‘Sibirskiy razmer’ bred in the CSBS.

Response of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus l. Yalova Akköy-41) to Different Irrigation and Fertigation Levels

This study was carried out in the greenhouses of Bursa Uludag University Yenişehir Ibrahim Orhan Vocational School in 2014-2015 to determine the effects of five different irrigation levels (T1: 100% (full irrigation), T2: 75%, T3: 50%, T4: 25%, T5: 0% (non-irrigated)) and two different fertilization levels (F1.0: 100% (100:100:100 NPK) fertigation and F0.5: 50% (50:50:50 NPK) fertigation on yield and quality parameters of okra grown under unheated greenhouse conditions. In 2014 and 2015, the amount of irrigation water in the study was applied as 0.0-380.0 mm and 0.0-360.0 mm for the 100% (100:100:100 NPK) fertilization and 50% (50:50:50 NPK) fertilization treatments, respectively. Evapotranspiration values were realized as 200.0-410.0 mm and 130.0-400.0 mm for 100% (100:100:100 NPK) and 50% (50:50:50 NPK) fertilization treatments in 2014, 185.0-425.0 mm and 200.0-450.0 mm in 2015, respectively. It was observed that irrigation water levels significantly affected the yield, fruit diameter, fruit length, 10 fruit weight, and number of fruits per plant and dry matter of okra. The highest yield averages for both years were obtained from T1F1.0 and T1F0.5 treatments were found to be 14.6-17.8 tons‘ ha-1 and 16.8 -15.7 tons‘ ha-1 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Crop response factors (ky) of okra were found as 1.38-1.26 and 1.26-1.41 for 100% (100:100:100 NPK) fertilization and 50% (50:50:50 NPK) fertilization treatments in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The highest water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) values were calculated as 0.036-0.038 kg m-3 and 0.045-0.049 kg m-3 from T1F1.0 and T1F0.5 treatments in 2014 and 0.040-0.047 kg m-3 and 0.035-0.046 kg m-3 from same treatments (T1F1.0 and T1F0.5) in 2015, respectively. The highest T1F1.0 and T1F0.5 values were the closest values were obtained from T2F1.0 and T2F0.5 treatments therefore T2F1.0 and T2F0.5 treatments can be recommended for okra.

Management of soil salinity associated with irrigation of protected crops

Long-term evaluation of soil chemical changes in the soil is required to optimize irrigation of protected crops and to control associated environmental issues. In this study, the multi-component solute transport module UNSATCHEM of HYDRUS-1D was used to assess the effects of long-term (2018–2050) irrigation on salt build-up in the soil under unheated greenhouse conditions. Blended water (recycled water, artificially recharged groundwater and harvested rainwater) was used to irrigate tomato, cucumber, capsicum, and eggplant. Irrigation management included four leaching fractions (LF), i.e., accounting for 0, 15, 20, and 30% of applied excess water. The effects of four amounts of annual gypsum application, i.e. 0, 1.7, 2.6, and 3.4 t/ha, were also simulated.Model-simulated annual root water uptake by cucumber, tomato, capsicum, and eggplant was 303, 476, 642, and 649 mm, respectively, for an irrigation schedule based on outdoor temperature thresholds. Annual drainage was 4.1–6.1% of irrigation for these crops. Average salinity in the soil solution (ECsw) at the end of the simulation (year 2050) reached 6.5 dS/m for cucumber, 7.6 dS/m for tomato, 8.7 dS/m for capsicum, and 9.3 dS/m for eggplant. Soil salinity was building up at a nearly constant rate over 33 years. Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) at the end of the simulation was 30.8% for tomato, 27.1% for capsicum, 33.2% for eggplant, and 31.4% for cucumber. These results indicate that both salinity and sodicity will exceed critical threshold values and thus must be managed to maintain sustainability of irrigated horticulture. Modeling showed that higher irrigation (up to 15–20%) coupled with an annual addition of gypsum of 1.7 t/ha kept both salinity and sodicity (SAR, ESP) below critical thresholds while pH was reduced from 8.7 to 7.8, thus creating a favorable soil environment for long-term sustainable vegetable production under greenhouse conditions. The new gypsum application module implemented in the UNSATCHEM model has broad applicability in evaluating soil amendment scenarios to address sodicity hazards linked to long-term irrigation.

Water-Yield Relationships of Deficit Irrigated Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L. Demre)

This trial was realized in the greenhouses of Uludag University Yenisehir Vocational School between 2009 and 2010 to investigate effects of water deficit on yield and quality parameters of pepper during four crop growth stages. In this study, fourteen irrigation treatments in four growth periods (vegetative, flowering, yield formation and ripening) of pepper (Capsicum annuum l. Demre) were constituted and the yield and quality parameters found from these treatments were evaluated. The layout of the experiment was a completely randomized block design with three replications for each of the fourteen irrigation treatments tested. According to the content of the treatments, the irrigation amount water applied to the plants varied between 0 and 744 mm in the first year, and between 0 and 750 mm in the second year. Water consumption of pepper in the first year ranged between 320 and 760 mm and in the second year ranged between 330 and 770 mm. Yield, fruit weight, diameter, length and dry matter ratio were determined statistically significant. In 2009 and 2010 years, the maximum yield were found as 26.2 t ha-1 and 27.8 t ha-1 in V100F100Y100R100 treatments, while the minimum yield were found as 0.2 t ha-1 and 0.3 ha-1 in the V0F0Y0R0 treatments, respectively. Water- yield relationship factors (ky) in 2009 and 2010 years were found as 1.29 and 1.24, respectively. The maximum WUE and IWUE values were obtained from vegetative and ripening periods. Vegetative and ripening periods may be suggested as the maximum efficient irrigation periods for the pepper applied with drip irrigation under unheated greenhouse conditions.

Water-Yield Relationships in Deficit Irrigated Onion

This trial was realized in the greenhouses of Uludağ University Yenişehir Vocational School between 2009 and 2010 to investigate effects of water deficit on yield and quality parameters of onion during four crop growth stages. In this trial, fourteen irrigation treatments in four growth periods (establishment, vegetative, yield formation and ripening) of onion (Allium cepa L E.T Grano.502) were constituted and the yield and quality parameters found from these treatments were evaluated. The layout of the experiment was a completely randomized block design with three replications for each of the fourteen irrigation treatments tested. According to the content of the treatments, the irrigation amount water applied to the plants varied between 0 and 436 mm in the first year, and between 0 and 448 mm in the second year. Water consumption of onion in the first year ranged between 205 and 496 mm and in the second year ranged between 210 and 502 mm. Yield, bulb weight, diameter, height and dry matter ratio were determined statistically significant. In 2009 and 2010 years, the maximum yield were found as 52.2 t ha-1 and 52.4 t ha-1 in E100V100Y100R100 treatments, while the minimum yield were found as 0.8 t ha-1 and 0.5 t ha-1 in the E0V0Y0R0 treatments, respectively. Water- yield relationship factors (ky) in 2009 and 2010 years were found as 1.03 and 1.04, respectively. The maximum WUE and IWUE values were obtained from establishment and ripening periods. Establishment and ripening periods may be suggested as the maximum efficient irrigation periods for the onion applied with drip irrigation under unheated greenhouse conditions.

Effect of The Ethylene Inhibitor “Agno3”, Vitamin B9 “Folic Acid” And Thiol Compound “GSH” On in Vitro Propagation of Sideritis Syriaca L. Subsp. Syriaca (Hellenic Mountain Tea of The Crete Island)

The aim of this research was to study the effect of the ethylene inhibitor “silver nitrate (AgNO3)” and vitamin B9 "folic acid" in different concentrations combined with cytokinin BA as well as the antioxidant thiol compound “L-glutathione reduced (GSH)” in different concentrations simultaneously with auxins (IBA+NAA) on micropropagation efficiency of the endemic Sideritis syriaca L. subsp. syriaca (Hellenic mountain tea of Crete/ Malotira) using shoot tip explants. The culture medium used was the MS supplemented with 30 g/l sucrose. The simultaneous application 5 ?M AgNO3 + 2.2 ?M BA promoted best the initial shoot induction stage exhibiting 4.5 shoots/ explant and 100% shoot multiplication (5 weeks). Folic acid applied at 0.25 mg/l in combination with 0.5 mg/l BA exhibited the highest shoot multiplication percentage (90%) (4 weeks). GSH at 10 ?M with 10.7 ?M NAA + 4.92 ?M IBA gave the greatest root length (13.68 mm), at 25 ?M caused a 3-fold increase in rooting (90%) and 250 ?M GSH raised by 20% shoot multiplication (80%). An 89% final survival rate of rooted microplants to ex vitro unheated greenhouse conditions was recorded within 8 weeks period during mid-late spring. Thus, the acclimatization and hardening process was successfully completed.

Deficit Irrigation Effects on Cabbage (Brassicaceae Oleracea var. capitata L. Grandslam F1) Yield in Unheated Greenhouse Condition

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of deficit irrigation on yield for cabbage grown under unheated greenhouse condition. The research was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station of Yenişehir High School of Uludağ University in Bursa, Turkey, in 2008. In the study, water was applied to cabbage as 1.00, 0.75, 0.50, 0.25 and 0.00% (as control) of evaporation from a Class A Pan corresponding to 2 day irrigation frequency. Irrigation water applied ranged from 70 to 520 mm and water consumption ranged from 90 to 548 mm. The effect of irrigation water level on the yield, head height, head diameter, head weight and dry matter were found to be significant. The highest yield was 72.8 t ha-1. Crop yield response factor for cabbage (ky) was found as 1.036. The highest values of water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) for 2008 year of K2cp treatment was calculated to be 0.143 kg m-3 and 0.137 kg m-3, respectively. K2cp application (75%) can be recommended as the most effective irrigation level for the cabbage to which drip irrigation is applied under scarce and unheated greenhouse conditions.

Responses of unheated greenhouse grown green bean to buried drip tape placement depth and watering levels

Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) is a professional water distribution system for improved crop water use and conserving water. Selecting drip tape installation depths for different crops is the most critical decision with these systems. Hence, the aim of this research was to examine the effects of different SDI depths and water amounts on the yield components and water use characteristics of green bean crop under unheated greenhouse conditions during two crop-growing cycles. Three irrigation methods [Traditional Drip Irrigation (DI), SDI at 10cm soil depth (SDI10) and SDI at 20cm soil depth (SDI20)] and six irrigation water levels (I) based on crop-pan coefficients (I20:Kcp=0.20, I40:Kcp=0.40, I60:Kcp=0.60, I80:Kcp=0.80, I100:Kcp=1.00 and I120:Kcp=1.20) were evaluated. In each growing cycle, adequately watered crops (I100) were accepted as control. The seasonal evapotranspiration changed from 235 to 374mm in autumn and from 270 to 566mm in spring season. Different placement depths of drip tape had significant effects on green bean yields in spring growing cycle. Maximum yield (5.97kgm−2) was obtained in SDI10 irrigation method. Irrigation water levels also significantly (p<0.001) affected green bean yield in both growing cycles. The highest yield (1.66kgm−2 in autumn and 6.81kgm−2 in spring) was obtained in I100 treatment. SDI techniques improved Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency (IWUE). The values of WUE and IWUE increased as the watering level was reduced. Maximum yield response factor in DI method in autumn and spring seasons (Ky) was found as 0.96 and 1.66, respectively. General evaluation of the water management, crop yield components and growth variables showed that the SDI10I100 treatment appears to be the most favorable irrigation practice for the green bean grown under greenhouse conditions. Water savings of up to 13% of seasonal irrigation water could be achieved using SDI method.

The Effects of Irrigation Regimes on the Yield and Water Use of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

The general objective of this study was to specify the influence of deficit irrigation on yield for eggplant grown under unheated greenhouse condition. The area trials were conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of Yenişehir Vocational School of Uludag University in Bursa, Turkey during growing season of 2007. In the study, irrigation regimes consisted of full irrigation (1.00 K1 cp ) and three deficit irrigation treatments (K2 cp , K3 cp , and K4 cp corresponding to 0.75, 0.50 and 0.25 of accumulative pan evaporation). A nonirrigated treatment (K5 cp ) was also designed for control purpose. Applied irrigation water amounts were changed between 85 and 464 mm, and water consumption were varied from 170 to 472 mm. Eggplant yield, length, diameter, weight and dry matter were significantly influenced by irrigation water level. The highest yield averaging 62 t ha -1 was obtained at K1 cp . Crop yield response factor (k y ) for eggplant was found as 1.14. Water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) for the K2 cp treatment were calculated to be 13.16 and 10.63 kg m -3 . These were the highest WUE and IWUE values. K2 application (75%) can be recommended as the most effective irrigation level for the eggplant to which drip irrigation is applied under scarce water resource and unheated greenhouse conditions.

Evaluation of the SALTMED model for tomato crop production in unheated greenhouses

The SALTMED model is one of the few available generic models that can be used to simulate crop growth with an integrated approach considering water, crop, soil and field management. It is a physically based model using the well-known water and solute transport, evapotranspiration, and water uptake equations. The possibility of using models able to simulate crop growth with this integrated approach can be very useful for farmers as a decision support tool, helping with decisions such as: what crop/variety to use, when to plant and harvest, when and how much to irrigate, what yield to expect under a specific irrigation system or strategy, when using a certain water quality, and also to allow increasing water use efficiency and crops productivity. The SALTMED model has been calibrated and validated for several field crops, in several parts of the world, including field tomato. However, the greenhouse environment has specific conditions that are not always easy to simulate with generic crop growth models. The objective of this work was to evaluate SALTMED model for a tomato crop grown in unheated greenhouse conditions. Climatic data and crop parameters were recorded during two years, in two greenhouses with different ventilation management, and three different sets of data were used to calibrate and to validate the model. The results showed that the model can accurately simulate soil grown tomato crop yield under Mediterranean unheated greenhouse conditions.

NURSERY PERFORMANCE OF GN22 AND GF677 ALMOND ROOTSTOCKS

Traditional almond production is done by seed rootstocks in Turkey. In recent years, GF677 and GN22 clonal rootstocks are used in almond orchards which are set under irrigated conditions. However, nursery performance of these rootstocks remains unclear for both farmers and nursery holders. This study was conducted under unheated greenhouse conditions in Gaziantep between the years 2009 and 2011. Nine hundred cuttings of both GF677 and GN22 were used as material in this study. Three doses of IBA (indole-3-butyric acid), 250, 500 and 1000 ppm, were prepared for each rootstock. Studies on the rooting of cuttings were done in wet perlite on 15th November 2009. The best rooting occurred in 500 ppm IBA solution for GF677 with 78% rooting ratio and in 250 ppm IBA solution for GN22 with 97% rooting ratio. Grafting was done in three periods. The most success was obtained in March, followed by October and the lowest grafting success was seen in July. The best results for GF677 rooting were obtained for dipping into 500 ppm solution and grafting in March or October and for GN22, dipping into 250 ppm and grafting in the same periods were the best.