Using Seawater for Agriculture: A Different Strategy in the Climate Crisis Era

Abstract

Globally, the sustainability of agricultural production is being negatively impacted by decreasing precipitation, increasing temperatures, and erratic weather patterns brought on by climate change. Because of this circumstance, looking for alternate water sources has become necessary, especially in areas where water is scarce. This study weighs the benefits and drawbacks of using desalinated or diluted seawater in agricultural production. Seawater use has been successfully applied in hydroponic systems, greenhouse cultivation, and with salt-tolerant plant species, according to research published in the literature. Nonetheless, some technical and financial constraints still exist, such as the potential for soil salinization, the high energy needs, and the effects on the environment. The creation of solar-powered desalination systems and photothermal evaporators in recent years has offered long-term ways to get around these restrictions. Additionally, in the context of seawater-based agriculture, phytoremediation techniques and salt management techniques targeted at maintaining soil health have grown in significance. According to the study's findings, seawater can be regarded as a feasible substitute water source when designing water-efficient and climate-resilient agricultural systems. Last but not least, incorporating different renewable energy sources (such as wind, solar, and geothermal) into desalination systems lowers the cost of producing water and improves energy efficiency and enhances the systems’ suitability for agricultural use.

Keywords

• alternative strategy
• climate change
• global warming
• sea water

Tarım İçin Deniz Suyu Kullanımı: İklim Krizi Döneminde Farklı Bir Strateji

Öz

İklim değişikliğinin neden olduğu azalan yağışlar, artan sıcaklıklar ve düzensiz hava koşulları, küresel ölçekte tarımsal üretimin sürdürülebilirliğini olumsuz etkilemektedir. Bu durum özellikle su kaynaklarının kısıtlı olduğu bölgelerde alternatif su kaynakları arayışını zorunlu kılmıştır. Bu çalışma, tarımsal üretimde arıtılmış veya seyreltilmiş deniz suyunun kullanımının avantaj ve dezavantajlarını değerlendirmektedir. Literatürde yayımlanan araştırmalara göre, deniz suyunun kullanımı; hidroponik sistemlerde, sera tarımında ve tuza dayanıklı bitki türleriyle birlikte başarıyla uygulanabilmiştir. Ancak, toprak tuzluluğu riski, yüksek enerji gereksinimi ve çevresel etkiler gibi bazı teknik ve ekonomik kısıtlar hâlâ mevcuttur. Son yıllarda geliştirilen güneş enerjisiyle çalışan tuzdan arındırma sistemleri ve fototermal buharlaştırıcılar, bu kısıtların uzun vadeli olarak aşılmasına yönelik çözümler sunmuştur. Ayrıca, deniz suyuna dayalı tarım bağlamında toprak sağlığının korunmasına yönelik fitoremedyasyon teknikleri ve tuz yönetim yaklaşımlarının önemi giderek artmaktadır. Çalışmanın bulgularına göre, su kullanım etkinliği yüksek ve iklim değişikliğine dayanıklı tarımsal sistemlerin tasarlanmasında deniz suyu uygulanabilir bir alternatif su kaynağı olarak değerlendirilebilir. Son olarak, rüzgar, güneş ve jeotermal gibi farklı yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarının tuzdan arındırma sistemlerine entegre edilmesi; su üretim maliyetini düşürmekte ve enerji verimliliğini artırmaktadır. Bu durum ise sistemlerin tarımda kullanım uygunluğunu güçlendirmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• alternatif strateji
• deniz suyu
• iklim değişikliği
• küresel ısınma

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