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Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larisa, Greece
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Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly, 38221 Volos, Greece
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Laboratory of Hydraulic Works and Environmental Management, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
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University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Technical School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering and Biotechnology, Regional Centre of Water Research (CREA), Campus Universitario s/n, 02071 Albacete, Albacete, Spain
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Desertification Research Centre (CIDE), CSIC-UV-GVA, Carretera CV 315, km 10.7, 46113 Moncada, Valencia, Spain
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Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Lebanese University, Dekwaneh P.O. Box 6573/14, Lebanon
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National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water, and Forestry (INRGREF), Hédi Karrai Street, P.O. Box 10, Ariana 2080, Tunisia
9
National Institute of Field Crops (INGC), B.P. 120, Bousalem 8170, Tunisia
Abstract
Agroclimatic classification identifies zones for efficient use of natural resources leading to optimal and non-optimal crop production. The aim of this paper is the development of a methodology to determine sustainable agricultural zones in three Mediterranean study areas, namely, “La Mancha Oriental” in
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Agroclimatic classification identifies zones for efficient use of natural resources leading to optimal and non-optimal crop production. The aim of this paper is the development of a methodology to determine sustainable agricultural zones in three Mediterranean study areas, namely, “La Mancha Oriental” in Spain, “Sidi Bouzid” in Tunisia, and “Bekaa” valley in Lebanon. To achieve this, time series analysis with advanced geoinformatic techniques is applied. The agroclimatic classification methodology is based on three-stages: first, the microclimate features of the region are considered using aridity and vegetation health indices leading to water-limited growth environment (WLGE) zones based on water availability; second, landform features and soil types are associated with WLGE zones to identify non-crop-specific agroclimatic zones (NCSAZ); finally, specific restricted crop parameters are combined with NCSAZ to create the suitability zones. The results are promising as compared with the current crop production systems of the three areas under investigation. Due to climate change, the results indicate that these arid or semi-arid regions are also faced with insufficient amounts of precipitation for supporting rainfed annual crops. Finally, the proposed methodology reveals that the employment and use of remote sensing data and methods could be a significant tool for quickly creating detailed, and up to date agroclimatic zones.
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