Improving natural warehousing in Bolu province: Research of lemon and orange storage under Bolu provincial conditions

The aim of thisstudy is to evaluate suitability of Bolu, which has an important location for logistics, in terms of natural storage. Bolu is compared with Ortahisar, in which natural storaging is done most in Turkiye, by means of two fruit types. In Ortahisar storage average temperature is 8,4 C and humidity is 95%, in Bolu Natural Storage average temperature is measured as 10,07 C and humidty is 75%. Citrus Lemon (citruslemon I.) and Washington Navel are used as study fruits as they are mostly stored in natural storages. Fruits are picked in January and stored in three different storages until June and iphysical and chemical analysis are made once in a month. In Ortahisar storage, for citrus lemon, in May, it is calculated that, average weight loss is 10,17%, average rotting loss is 3,95%, green capsule fruit ratio is 40%, juice amount is 49,97%, WSDM/acid ratio is 1,34%, in Bolu natural storage, average weight loss is 10,65%, average rotting loss is 4,15%, green capsule fruit ratio is 30%, juice amount is 59,24%, WSDM/acid ratio is 1,38%, in AIBU storage, average weight loss is 9,98%, average rotting loss is 3,95%, green capsule fruit ratio is 43,3%, juice amount is 53,35%, WSDM/acid ratio is 1,43%. For Washington Navel, In Ortahisar storage, in May, it is calculated that, average weight loss is 13,65%, average rotting loss is 9,95%, green capsule fruit ratio is 30%, juice amount is 42,93%, WSDM/acid ratio is 12,18%, in Bolu natural storage, average weight loss is 14,42%, average rotting loss is 7,75%, green capsule fruit ratio is 16,6%, juice amount is 38,91%, WSDM/acid ratio is 15,82%, in AIBU storage, average weight loss is 12,45%, average rotting loss is 8,95%, green capsule fruit ratio is 50%, juice amount is 39,02%, WSDM/acid ratio is 11,16%. As a result, Bolu natural storage, which has no insulation and located in an unsuitable location for storaging, has given an option to fruit store with values close to Ortahisar and AIBU storage. With necessary improvement of conditions, and enabling them to meet standards, this natural storage will provide longer storage period and keep the quality of fruits. Bolu province is seen as a suitable place for natural storage activities in terms of geographical location, climate conditions, logistics and strategical situation. Also conducting new studies with different products are important to discover the potential of Bolu in terms of natural storage.