Malatya basin and it?s sorroundings climate effects on properties of fruits

Forming the study area, Malatya Basin, is located in the Eastern Anatolia Region?s western section of the Upper Euphrates. The basin which is located between Eastern Taurus Mountains in the north and the Taurus Mountains in the south is tectonic and in a broad-based triangle.Due to the it?s geographic location, Malatya Basin is different from the climate of Eastern Anatolia Region. Continental climate is experienced in the region and the weather is calmer than other adjacent regions. For many years, the average total rainfall of 366.6 mm falls during most of the spring. Small amounts of annual rainfall and high summer temperatures have caused severe drought. The basin is rich in resources of it?s underground and above ground water. Summer drought and lack of irrigation facilities urge people who live in the basin to grow fruits. This obligation makes Malatya Basin to be the first in apricot production around the world. In this region together with apricots, cherries, apples and grapes are the other fruit species. Fruits, especially apricots grown in the basin are affected by the climatic conditions. Late spring frost and early autumn frost or other weather conditions have a negative impact on fruit production in the basin.In this study, climate of the basin were determined from the meteorological station?s data which were the long-term observations made in the basin. In this study we compare the years in which production rates were low with the years in which low temperatures seen in the spring season. Also we use data which is belong to automatic stations of Malatya Fruit Research Institute. In conclusion, the Malatya Basin and experienced climatic characteristics of the environment were found to be suitable for fruits grown in the basin. However, some of the low temperatures experienced during the spring lowers the economic profits of the fruits.Especially in years when low volume and yield of apricot production because of unfavorable weather conditions in the basin did not cause the same degree of damage was also determined. These differences occurred in the basin is derived from geomorphological features. The most striking example of this is Yesilyurt and Battalgazi because of the temperature rebuff in Battalgazi, fruit in this region is higher than the risk of being affected. For this reason low places are not suitable for growing fruit.Key words: Malatya Basin, Fruit growing, Apricot, Climate characteristics, Inversion of temperature.