Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TURKISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, cilt.50, sa.1, ss.13-31, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus, TRDizin)
In this study, the effects of different polycarbonate (PC) greenhouse covering materials on the environmental microclimate and plant growth were examined using three research greenhouses. Two types of PC covering materials were tested: the first greenhouse was covered with UV-additive PC (UV PC), the second greenhouse with UV+Infrared (IR) additive PC (UV+IR PC), and the third (control) greenhouse had UV-additive PC on the sidewalls and polyethylene (PE) covering material (UV PC+PE) on the roof. The measured fundamental parameters included total radiation transmittance, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance, temperature, and relative humidity. Plant development was monitored and leaf temperatures were measured using a thermal camera at various points during the growing season. Tomatoes were cultivated in the greenhouses to evaluate the effects of the different covering materials on plant growth, development, yield, and fruit quality. Plant parameters assessed included height, stem diameter, leaf number, and yield, while fruit parameters analyzed were average fruit weight, diameter, soluble solids content (SSC), electrical conductivity (EC), pH of the fruit juice, and lycopene content. Additionally, plant canopy temperatures were monitored via a thermal camera. The initial total radiation transmittance values for the UV PC, UV+IR PC, and UV PC+PE were 49.4, 49.2, and 62.6%, respectively. By the end of the study, these values decreased by 25.1, 28.9, and 10.7%, respectively. Similarly, initial PAR transmittance values for the UV PC, UV+IR PC, and UV PC+PE were 54.7, 49.3, and 54.1%, respectively, with reductions of 27.2, 25.6, and 9.4%, respectively, observed at the end of the study. The highest total radiation and PAR transmittance throughout the study period were recorded in the PE-covered greenhouse. In terms of yield, the UV+IR PC greenhouse covering material produced the highest total yield across both growing seasons