Changes in Crop and Irrigation Water Requirements in Niğde

Authors : Onur Arslan

Pages : 68-74

View : 19 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 2020-06-30

Article Type : Research

Abstract :In this study, changes in crop and irrigation water requirements in Niğde were investigated. Potato, sugar beet and maize are selected for this purpose. These crops are the most grown crops in Niğde and also Niğde provides important portion of potato production of Turkey. Firstly, crop and irrigation water requirements in Niğde were calculated by using CROPWAT based on FAO Penman Monteith method. For this purpose, monthly average temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, sunshine duration and precipitation values of Niğde meteorological station between 1980 and 2017 were used. Then, Mann Kendall Rank Correlation tests were applied. A statistically significant increasing trend at 90% confidence level was determined for crop water requirement of sugar beet. Also, increasing trends were found for both crop and irrigation water requirements. Results of this study refer to climate change and show that the groundwater level in Niğde, where groundwater is used for irrigation, will drop more and more day by day and the sinkhole risk is increasing. Therefore, taking the necessary precautions as soon as possible is extremely important.
Keywords : Crop and irrigation water requirement, FAO Penman Monteith method, CROPWAT, Mann Kendall Rank Correlation Test, trend, Niğde