An important tool against combat climate change: Land suitability assessment for canola (a case study: Çanakkale, NW Turkey)

Abstract

Authorities working to combat climate change should consider land suitability studies for crop-based energy crops rather than broad and categorical land assessments, particularly over macro-areas, to facilitate decisions and policy-making. The primary objective of the present study was to identify suitable productive lands in canakkale province, NW Turkey for canola, which may constitute an alternative energy crop to fossil fuels and aid in combating climate change. Literature findings, land observations, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information systems (GIS) were used to generate a land suitability model for canola farming in arable lands of canakkale province. Within the scope of the study, 12 physical, chemical and topographic parameters (soil texture, pH, EC, depth, organic matter, N, P, K, CaCO3 contents, aspect, slope and elevation) were assessed. Analyses revealed that 5798.28 ha were highly suitable (S1), 18,647.11 ha were moderately suitable (S2), 9342.71 ha were marginally suitable (S3) and 3070.92 ha were not suitable (N) for canola farming. The topographic parameters of slope and soil depth were identified as the primary effective factors and chemical parameters of soil pH and EC were identified as the secondary effective factors. Climate change, alternative searches for energy resources and increasing land demands make it necessary to use land resources more effectively. The combination of GIS and AHP techniques provided useful results in the canola example for the utilization of land resources in accordance with increasing demands. Widespread use of this approach for different energy crops will provide a significant tool to the authorities for carbon management.