STONINESS AND EROSION PROBLEMS IN CULTIVATED LANDS OF KONYA PROVINCE (TURKEY) AND SOLUTION SUGGESTIONS

Soil and water are vital resources for agricultural land and human life. Productive utilizing of these sources is an important topic for sustainable cultivation. This study was investigated to determine areas of stoniness and erosion problems by using data obtained from different government organizations from past to present in Konya province (Turkey).The study was based on records obtained in different years (1968, 1978, 1985, 2003). The findings were evaluated with each other by considering record years. However, all problematic areas within arable lands and some improved lands in those problematic lands for Konya were shown in maps.The current problem areas of stoniness, water-wind erosion are 915.584 ha, 2.804.633 ha, respectively. In addition, improvement studies were not conducted after 1985. Consequently, solution of these problems in cultivated land may be possible when we use suitable techniques of soil cultivation by improving soil against stoniness and erosion problems and pay attention to forestation.