Potential Effects of Global Climate Changes on Field Vegetable Growing in the Thrace Region

Abstract

Climate, as the pro-planner in field vegetable growing sets the limits and gives the orientation on methods, time, types, and varieties of production for a country. Field vegetables, which are more vulnerable to changing conditions than arable crops, are particularly affected by temperature changes and weather extremities such as droughts, floods and severe storms, etc. In the Thrace region of Turkey, vegetable growing is conducted on a total of 24 871 ha area which is 2.38% of the total vegetable growing area in Turkey. The effects of climatic changes will differ both on area and time scope of agricultural production. Therefore, the determination of climate change level and regional differentiation on agricultural production is critically important because of the concurrence to these changes and preparation for their severe consequences. In this study, the effects on field vegetable growing under the conditions of global climate changes: temperature, precipitation, CO(2) fertilisation, the changes in sowing and planting times, plant diseases, pests control, and extreme climate events were determined and suggestions were given to attain the sustainability of field vegetable growing under crucial circumstances of climate change for Thrace region.