GIS Mapping of Large Soil Groups, Current Land Use, Soil Depths and Slopes, Erosian in Kırşehir Province of Turkey

Abstract

This study was conducted within the scope of the spatial evaluation of the current land uses, large soil groups, soil depth and slope distributions and soil erosion data in Kırşehir province of Turkey. In the study, digital soil maps produced by the Abolished General Directorate of Rural Services in Turkey were used. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) (Arc GIS 10.3.1) software was used for the spatial evaluation of soil data in the study. According to the spatial analysis results; Dry marginal agricultural areas with 2857.7 km2 constitute a large part of the current land use of Kırşehir Province. This area covers 44% of the total. When the large soil groups of Kırşehir province are examined, brown soils constitute a large part of the region. It has been determined that brown soils correspond to 2710.4 km2 area and 41% of the existing area. The soil depth structure has been observed to be generally medium depth soils. Medium deep soils have an area of  2052.1 km2 and constitute 31% of the total area. As for the soil slope class, it was seen that a large part of the region was between the 2nd degree slope group (7-12%) and the 3rd degree slope group (13-20%). When the soil erosion degree was examined, it was seen that a large part of the region had 2nd degree erosion. Soils with 2nd degree erosion group constitute an area of 2294.3 km2 (35%). Sharing the digital land use data obtained in the study will provide significant contributions to the investor organizations that will invest in the region and contribute to agricultural production.