MULTI-CRITERIA APPROACH TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL ORGANIC FARMING AREAS IN ALIAGA BASIN COVERING MULTI-PURPOSE USED LANDS

Agricultural production systems and worldwide expectations are currently changing due to the developments in science, technology and industry. It is urgent for the global community to be aware of sustainable development - conservation and sustainable use of natural resources to reach their targets. Industrial activities in the municipality of Izmir are moving towards Aliaga region and its environs especially Guzelhisar basin. In Guzelhisar, olive, grapes, wheat, maize and cotton are grown traditionally. Drinking and irrigation water for this purpose is supplied from Guzelhisar creek and the dam. This basin was selected as the study area because recently there started a growing threat on the fertile agricultural lands via population pressure and via industrial and commercial land uses. In this regard, for food safety and production, a potential suitable land of this basin was aimed to be studied. With this purpose, a grid system was performed in the study area and soils were sampled from each grid. Samples were examined for their standard physical and chemical properties as well as for their heavy metals. Prelminary Results were evaluated in accordance with GIS by using multi-criteria model and the effect of current conditions on soil and water sources were found geographically.