A retired academician in Isparta, Dr. Abdullah Kankaya produces soilless fruit saplings in pots by using coconut peat and pumice in his greenhouse. Kankaya stated that while seedlings are produced once every 2 years with production in soil, they can produce seedlings 2 times a year in modern greenhouses.
Retired from the Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Abdullah Kankaya has devoted himself to fruit growing. Kankaya, who established a modern greenhouse in Atabey district, managed to produce fruit saplings twice a year in Isparta, where the winter season is harsh and cold. Producing the seedlings in pots, Kankaya uses a mixture of coconut peat, and pumice instead of soil. Kankaya, which also saves water with the computerized irrigation system it has installed, markets the saplings it produces abroad as well as domestically.
Abdullah Kankaya: "We started the production of seedlings in pots in soil culture so that we can control the climate, water, and fertilizer. Different from the soil you see in normal land, the seedlings are put into pots with a mixture of coconut peat, and pumice and seedlings are produced in it.
We have built a total area of 4,100 square meters for the production of fruit saplings and we can plant 152,000 saplings in this area at once. We receive around 80 to 90% of grown fruit saplings from our planted seedlings. After this is over, we have the chance to use the greenhouse again in the same year for the second time.”
"The production of saplings should go towards production in soilless culture and in pots as soilless agriculture is increasing rapidly in the world. It is necessary to prevent the rapid spread of diseases and pests. For this reason, the production should be supported in this direction and the production of seedlings should go towards production in soilless culture, in pots. In some pots, they also use the garden soil from outside, which is what we do not refer to here as soilless production. We are talking about materials such as coconut shells or peats where the soil is not used at all. I think the country should go towards this production and the incentives of the Ministry of Agriculture should be in this direction."
Source: Medya Gazete
Image source: Medya Gazete