Climate Change and Irrigation Management in Turkey

Water is, a fundamental element of life, an indispensable input of the agriculture. On the one hand irrigation improves agricultural production, on the other hand it can be harmful on the environment if the necessary measures are not taken and disrupt the natural balance. Depending on a population and water demand increases, available resources becomes limited, the amount of water used in agriculture is restricted. Climate change, in addition to natural climate changes observed in a comparable period of time, directly or indirectly alter the global atmosphere composition comprising human activity, has been identified as a result of climate changes. Greenhouse gases that cause global warming; mainly the burning of fossil fuels, the development of industry, transport, land use change is the result of solid waste management and agricultural activities. The burning of fossil fuels, reduction of forests, land-use change, agricultural activities and the development of accumulation in the atmosphere with greenhouse gases emitted by industry, is rapidly increasing. This situation leads to an increase in the earth's surface temperature. Reduction of Turkey's water resources, forest fires, droughts, may be affected by the negative aspects of climate change, soil erosion and desertification. The highest share of water use is agriculture in countries with low income levels worldwide. When irrigation efficiency high-pressure irrigation techniques applied in agriculture, irrigation water requirement is reduced and the water used in irrigation can be saving 50%. Therefore, pressurized irrigation methods are important tools in providing saving water. 74% of the total annual water used in Turkey is consumed in agriculture. Therefore, water-saving irrigation is necessary. With this aim, the expansion of the drip irrigation system is required for effective use in agriculture. In this study, climate change, the effects of climate change on Turkey and irrigation were discussed, water-saving measures are given in agriculture.