Determination of suitable areas for some standard grape types in erci̇ş (Van) region by geographical information system

By this study, a methodology has been tried to be developed that can provide the determination of the most suitable fields for the cultivation of vineyards with the help of Geographical Information System. In order to be successful in a field for viticulture, some environmental and physical conditions must be met. The Geographical Information System and ArcGIS Program enable the analysis of many factors together and thus, it is aimed to provide benefits to the farmers who will carry out agricultural activities with high installation costs such as viticulture. In this study, it is aimed to determine the suitable areas of cultivation in the province by considering the viticulture-limiting factors of 10 standard grape varieties of Vitis vinifera L. and Vitis amurensis and 1 local variety (Erciş) which has different ripening levels. The scope of this study is Erciş (Van) center and all villages of the district. For this purpose, some climatic, topographic and soil features affecting to the cultivation of grape varieties were analyzed with the help of ArcGIS Geographical Information System software. As a result, it is clear that early ripen varieties of the selected grape species (Amurensis, Trakya İlkeren, Çavuş, Yalova İncisi, Sultani Seedless) can be cultivated in a large part of the district, mid-time ripen varieties (Hamburg Misketi, Cardinal, Redglobe, Hatun Parmağı) can only be cultivated well in the southern parts of the district, near the shores of Van Gölü. Late ripen (Boğazkere) variety of grape is not suitable for Erciş district. Suitability analysis was performed by formulating some important factors (growing degree-days, frost-free days, minimum winter temperature, aspect, slope, soil drainage, soil depth and soil capability) which affects cultivation of grape, with the help of GIS analysis and Weight-Rating Score Model.The required scores for weight-rating score model has been obtained and formulated with the help of both literature and consultants. For the topographic definition of the region, the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the location obtained from the ASTER satellite image was used. Also ArcGIS 10 software was used for digitalization of these images and 3D Analyst Tool the module of ArcGIS 10 was used for producing the maps of suitable areas for these grapes varieties.