For water levels, generally a non-stationary variable, the technique of universal kriging is applied in preference to ordinary kriging as the interpolation method. Each set of data in every sector can fit different empirical semivariogram models since they have different spatial structures. These models can be classified as circular, spherical, tetraspherical, pentaspherical, exponential, gaussian, rational quadratic, hole effect, K-bessel, J-bessel and stable. This study aims to determine which of these empirical semivariogram models will be best matched with the experimental models obtained from groundwater-table values collected from Mustafakemalpasa left bank irrigation scheme in 2002. The model having the least error was selected by comparing the observed water-table values with the values predicted by empirical semivariogram models. It was determined that the rational quadratic empirical semivariogram model is the best fitted model for the studied irrigation area.
In Turkey, the scattered, fragmented plots in agricultural areas are one of the major problems preventing agricultural efficiency. Land consolidation is an effective tool in improving efficiency, but the success depends greatly on farmers' satisfaction and adoption. Therefore, determination of issues important to farmers can positively influence future land consolidation projects. As such, land consolidation studies must be accelerated and extended nationwide in countries where land fragmentation is common and rural development is essential. This study determined the effects of changes in farm structures and agricultural activities on satisfaction with land consolidation. Nine villages in the Bursa -Karacabey (Turkey) plain irrigation area were selected as study sites, and the logit model was used to analyse survey data including 190 respondents. Our results indicate that farmers' age (AGE), easiness in crop pattern planning (CRPT), reduction in distance between farmstead centre and plots (DFCP), reduction in time consumed in accessing the plots (TIMES) and improvement in working conditions in the fields (WORC) significantly affected the satisfaction with land consolidation. All of these factors except farmers' age (AGE) are related to consolidation of scattered, fragmented and tiny parcels into larger plots with suitable shape and size for agriculture. Consolidation also increased production and further improved working conditions.
Ownership of agricultural land is very fragmented in Turkey, as is the case in countries within central Europe. This prevents agricultural efficiency from reaching desired levels. Land consolidation involves redistributing land ownership so that individual farmers own fewer, larger, more compact and more contiguous land parcels. In Turkey, generally voluntary land consolidation projects are performed, while some financial limitations and political conditions prevent land consolidation reach to its desired level. For this reason, only 2.2% of the agricultural areas have been consolidated so far. Ideally, farmers adopt consolidation and are pleased by its results; this helps maintain the sustainability of the land structure formed by consolidation and accelerate acceptance of consolidation in other areas. In this study, the factors that are effective on farmers' adopting land consolidation and their contentment were investigated. For this purpose, the results of the survey carried out in the selected villages within the Bursa-Karacabey plain were assessed using a logit model. According to the results obtained from this consolidation study, the criteria farmers value are the utilization of the irrigation system, reduction of inter-farmer conflicts, shaping parcels into a form proper for mechanized agriculture, and forming parcels of large dimensions by consolidating parcels. A higher level of contentment was observed among the farmers who were provided with above mentioned factors.
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