ARS | Publication request: MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT OF LAND USE STAUS BY GIS

Submitted to: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 25, 2002
Publication Date: September 3, 2003
Citation: OZCAN, H., CETIN, M., DIKER, K. MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT OF LAND USE STAUS BY GIS. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT. 2003.

Interpretive Summary: Suitability of soil for certain crops is determined by soil characteristics such as water holding capacity, salinity and drainage conditions as well as other factors. This paper demonstrates a method that many crops are grown in soils that are not suitable for their growth. Data shown that citrus plant not grown in a suitable soil could have a 40% yield reduction. Monitoring the land use types could be used for future developments and remodeling. The changes of land use types over time and space could cause serious problems at the peak irrigation season, especially in term of irrigation and drainage canal capacities. We expect producers and crop consultants will find this study useful in selection of crops for their soils.

Technical Abstract: The objectives of this study were to assess land suitability and to monitor the spatial and temporal changes in land use types (LUTs) by using GIS. The study was conducted in an irrigated area of 920 ha, located in the East Mediterranean region of Turkey. Archived data of LUTs were utilized. Data analysis was conducted by using ArcInfo and ArcView GIS softwares. The land characteristics were compared with land requirements of present LUTs by taking into account the land evaluation results. Three major soil series and twelve different LUTs were identified. Corn and citrus were the most planted LUTs in the assessment period. Generated maps demonstrated how LUTs cganged spatially and temporally. Most LUTs were clustered in certain areas indicating that farmer's selection of LUTs was affected by their habits and neighbor's behavior. Land suitability assessment results indicated that Canakci and Mursel series were found to be highly suitable for all LUTs while Arikli was determined to be moderately suitable for citrus, vegetables and watermelon. Citrus plantation maps overlaid on the soil series maps demonstrated that the citrus has not been planted completely on suitable areas, Land suitability assessment showed that citrus plantation in Arikli series would result in 40% yield loss and 58% of land is not used at its potential.