Research objectives, area and procedures
Research objectives
Agriculture is based on the interaction of human activities with the natural system including climate changes. This relationship is complex and causes various problems if they malfunction. This project aims at considering this interaction through the investigation of fundamental structure of land and water managements as well as through the projections of abrupt climate changes and the assessment of their impacts.
Study area
The study area of this project is mainly the Seyhan River Basin (19,300km2) in the Mediterranean region of Turkey where wheat is the main crop. This river basin includes upstream rainfed agriculture region producing mainly wheat and irrigated region in downstream delta producing mainly corn and cotton, where grazing also takws place.
Research procedures
First the characteristics of regional agricultural production system are analyzed. Then the regional climate change and its adaptability are assessed for integrated evaluation of vulnerability and sustainability of the agricultural production system. This approach comprehensively examines the relation between changes in nature and human activities.