Erciyes University (ERU), Faculty of Agriculture, Biosystem Engineering Department Lecturer Dr. Ali Ünlükara -who carries out studies in Kayseri in which the yield increase in products grown under dry agricultural conditions is tested by rainwater harvesting method- stated that they achieved more than 90 percent yield increase in chickpeas.

Ünlükara told Anadolu Agency (AA) that in a world where global warming, climate change and population are increasing, humanity is looking for solutions against food shortages.
Noting that Turkey has water resources close to the poverty line and that it will soon fall into the water-poor country class, Ünlükara stated that 7 million hectares of the country's existing 24 million hectares agricultural area is irrigated, and 17 million hectares of dry farming are carried out.

In this context, Ünlükara emphasized that they are conducting a study that tests the yield increase in products grown in dry farming conditions with the rainwater harvesting method, and explained that they presented the Project of Rainwater Harvesting Techniques Suitable for Machine Farming under Irrigated and Dry Agricultural Conditions to TUBITAK in 2020 and that they received 380 thousand liras support for the project.
Noting that the increase in productivity in dry agriculture is extremely important for Turkey, Ünlükara said that otherwise Turkey will become more dependent on foreign countries.
"The very purpose of this project is to increase productivity in dry farming conditions for Turkey. We focused our project on chickpeas grown with dry farming. We planted chickpeas last year, we got very good results. 2021 was an extremely dry year and yield losses were experienced in many products due to drought. We got a yield of 100 kilograms per decare from chickpeas under traditional dry farming conditions. When we asked the farmers, they said that they received between 80 and 100 kilograms. They also said that the yield is up to 150-200 kilograms in normal years. In dry farming conditions, we got a yield of 100 kilograms per decare, while we got a yield of 194 kilograms from our water harvesting practices 94 yield increase has been achieved. One of the most important ways to increase productivity in dry agricultural areas is the application of rain-water harvesting."

"We divide our land into ridges and furrows"
Noting that water harvesting has a wide variety of applications and that they use what they call "micro-basin rainwater harvesting" under dry farming conditions, Ünlükara continued his words as follows:
"To put it simply, we divide our land into ridges and furrows suitable for planting. We cover the ridges with black mulch. In this way, we prevent evaporation as we cover nearly 50 percent of the land with a mulch cover. The water left without evaporation in the soil is used by the plants. This provides a great yield increase. Secondly, we ensure that the water is concentrated in the root zone of the plant when it rains. With this system, the plant takes water more easily from the more humid root zone, thus increasing the productivity. Here we're also increasing efficiency."
Noting that similar studies have been carried out in China, Ünlükara said, "We first find which furrow, which ridge width is suitable for the regions. We determine which system provides an increase in yield. Then we try to announce it to our farmers. In this way, we produce a design suitable for all water harvesting systems. Here, too, in the system we have developed for chickpeas, we achieved the highest yield by planting double rows of chickpeas in 50 cm furrow, 50 cm ridge, and 50 cm furrow area." said Ünlükara.

Ünlükara pointed out that the system, where better quality products are obtained, will also prevent soil erosion, one of the most important problems of Turkey, and contribute to groundwater resources, and stated that they aim to develop machine systems where farmers can apply this method from now on.
Stating that this system, which can be easily applied in lentils, chickpeas, dried beans, sunflowers and pumpkin in Central Anatolia, can also be used in the cultivation of fruit trees, Ünlükara added that they aim to expand the system in viticulture, which has reached the point of exhaustion in the region.

Source: Anadolu Ajansı