Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The management and planning of citrus orchards at a regional scale with GIS

  • Published:
Precision Agriculture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Citrus growing is regarded as an important cash crop in some regions of China. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to investigate the growing conditions of citrus orchards in Chongqing, China. Digital maps on topography, land use, soil types and climate were obtained and a digital elevation model (DEM) was produced at a scale of 1:10 000 using a GIS. A total of 50 representative orchards (2032 ha) were examined and extensive investigation were carried out in the summer of 2007. Topographic characteristics of the orchards studied were determined using the DEM. About 53% of the total area covered by the orchards has slopes of 8–25° and 4.4% has slopes steeper than 35°. The orchards were dominantly on south-facing slopes (42%). About 80% of the orchards were within 200–400 m in altitude. The orchards were mainly on soil developed on purple shale and limestone (86 and 14% of the total area, respectively). About 42% of the area has soil with a pH of less than 5.5. The majority of the study area (60%) has soil with organic matter contents of 1–2%. General guidelines for sustainable citrus production are proposed based on the topography and soil properties of the citrus orchards. The result of regional planning indicates that about one-third of the total area of Chongqing is suitable for citrus growth (2.68 × 106 ha). A GIS-based database management system provides a new perspective on the management and planning of citrus orchards in Chongqing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arctur, D., & Zeiler, M. (2004). Designing Geodatabase-case studies in GIS modeling. Redlands, CA: ESRI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, H. D. (1968). The mineral nutrition of citrus. The Citrus Industry, 2, 127–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dye, A. S., & Shaw, S. L. (2007). A GIS-based spatial decision support system for tourists of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 14, 269–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, E. A., Nair, P. K. R., Linehan, P. E., Beck, H. W., & Blanche, C. A. (2000). A GIS-based database management application for agroforestry planning and tree selection. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 27, 41–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). (1999). Understanding GIS, the ARC/INFO method. Redlands, CA: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grêt-Regamey, A., Bebi, P., Bishop, I. D., & Schmid, W. A. (2008). Linking GIS-based models to value ecosystem services in an Alpine region. Journal of Environmental Management, 89, 197–208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISSCAS). (2001). Chinese soil taxonomy. Beijing and New York: Science Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qualls, R. G. (2000). Comparison of the behavior of soluble organic and inorganic nutrients in forest soils. Forest Ecology and Management, 138, 29–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riquelme, F. J., & Ramos, A. B. (2005). Land and water use management in vine growing by using geographic information systems in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. Agricultural Water Management, 77, 82–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sano, M., Miyamoto, A., Furuya, N., & Kogi, K. (2009). Using landscape metrics and topographic analysis to examine forest management in a mixed forest, Hokkaido, Japan: Guidelines for management interventions and evaluation of cover changes. Forest Ecology and Management, 257, 1208–1218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sikder, I. U. (2009). Knowledge-based spatial decision support systems: An assessment of environmental adaptability of crops. Expert Systems with Applications, 36, 5341–5347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, O. H., Petersen, G. W., & Needelman, B. A. (2000). Environmental indicators of agroecosystems. Advances in Agronomy, 69, 75–97.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z. Z. (1985). Preliminary study on soil for citrus production. Soil Communication, 7, 11–15. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, W., Chen, G., Li, H., Luo, H. Y., & Huang, S. L. (2007). GIS application in mineral resource analysis-A case study of offshore marine placer gold at Nome, Alaska. Computers and Geosciences, 33, 773–788.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the National Science & Technology Support Program (No. 2007BAD47B04-2) and Nature Science Fund Project of Chongqing Science & Technology Commission (No. 2006AB1015) (China). Authors are thankful to Jean Thomas and William Thomas for their helpful comments in improving the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hong-Bin Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wu, W., Liu, HB., Dai, HL. et al. The management and planning of citrus orchards at a regional scale with GIS. Precision Agric 12, 44–54 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-009-9154-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-009-9154-9

Keywords

Navigation