Developing citrus information systems for Lower Sayhan Plain of Adana provice

This study was aimed to creat a Citrus Information Systems for lower Seyhan Plain of Adana Province by using remote sensing and GIS. This system includes mapping the spatial distribution of citrus plantations, number, species, age and productivity of trees, in addition to these production details ANDenvironmental variables such as, soil, hydrology and climate are also included within the system. In this respect, high resolution airphotos with a 0.45m spatial resolution was used to classify the citrus fields using advanced remote sensing techniques. This model was created by digitising the citrus field boundaries, collecting ground and ancillary information for each parcel and integrating these information in a GIS environment. Additionally, integration of soil, hydrology and climate data to the database will enabled: i) estimating short and long term production rates, developing feasible sectoral plans for marketing, processing and packing; ii) monitoring and detecting spatial distribution, diversity and productivity of citrus areas, additionally analysing the interaction of these variables with each other and environmental factors; iii) Developing application plans of chemicals; iv) Creating drainage and irrigation schemes; v) Defining the ability of soil and linking with fertilising; vi) Establishing environmental risk management, particularly for frost; vii) re-planting schemes by monitoring plant ages and progress.The outcomes of this research enabled to develope short and long term appropriate production and marketing policies for the citrus dependant industrial sectors by utilising the abilities of this model. This innovative approach can easily be transferred to the other sectors dependent on agriculturel.