APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT UREA CONCENTRATIONS IN PROTECTION OF GREENHOUSES AND POLYTUNNELS FROM SNOW

Abstract

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, greenhouses and polytunnels are often exposed to excessive snowfall during the winter period. In order to prevent the side-effect of retaining large amounts of snow (greenhouses, polytunnels), it is necessary to implement preventinve measures. The objective of this study is aimed at determining the rate of snow melting through the application of different concentrations of urea (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30%), at different temperatures. The results of the study show that the highest rate of snow melting, within one hour and at temperature ranging from 0 to 5⁰ C, is recorded in the application of 10% and 30% urea concentrations, and the lowest at at a concentration of 20%. Urea concentrations of 15% and 30% show the best effect on snow melting rate within day, at the stated positive air temperatures, while the concentration of 20% had the least effect. At temperatures ranging from 0 to - 5⁰ C, the highest snow melting rate was recorded in the urea concentration of 10% within both one hour and one day, and the lowest at a 15% concentration. In the conducted studies, all urea concentrations showed statistically significantly better results at positive temperatures compared to negative ones, by 2 to 3 times on average.