Determination of suitable areas for organic production in Kelkit basin and mapping by geographical information systems

Abstract

Kelkit Basin contains 17 districts within the boundaries of Tokat, Amasya, Gümüşhane, Giresun, and Sivas provinces. The Basin is located in the Middle Black Sea Region of Anatolia, at 40.9968 North, 30.8491 East, 36.0482 South, and 36.6943 West coordinates. The total area of the basin is 16.244,45 hectares. The altitude of the basin surrounded by high mountains ranged from 200 m (base of the valley) to 1200 m (high plain). The height of the mountains gradually increased from west to east until 2400 m. There is not any major industry establishment limiting the level of organic agriculture in the basin. The main livelihood of the people in the region is agriculture. Our study aimed to determine and mapping the suitable areas for organic agriculture in the basin. For this purpose, land surveys were conducted, point data were collected with GPS and the 1230-point value are calculated. On the calculation of point value, Land Use Capability, land pollution situation, erosion risk groups, and soil groups are used as criteria. In line with the regulation of organic farming practices, in the calculation the amount of pollution; intense agricultural activity, the impact of roads, settlement influence, water resources, the effects of soil pollution, and industrial-mining areas were taken into account. By using these calculated values, maps were created in the program ArcGIS (9.3) by analysis of IDW (Inverse Distance Weighted). According to the generated maps, the organic agricultural potential of the region was put forward.