Developing a suitability index for land uses and agricultural land covers: a case study in Turkey

This study was aimed at determining the land-use and land-cover (LULC) potentials of a southeastern Mediterranean area (Antakya, Turkey) of 36 816 ha for a total of 23 different LULC types: nine horticultural crops, nine field crops and five non-agricultural lands. Land evaluation was carried out by using a combination of SENOL Land Evaluation System and ILSEN computer program adapted to Turkey from FAO land evaluation principles. Our assessment resulted in the identification of nine physiographical units, 27 different soil series, and 110 land mapping units. Nearly 49% of the study area was determined as suitable for agricultural land cover types, and 35% for non-agricultural land use types. A map showing potential suitability of LULC was derived for the study area. The quantification of LULC suitability assists decision makers in ensuring that lands are used according to their capacities to satisfy human needs for present and future generations, thus sustaining ecological and economic productivity of natural resources.