Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5.47
The distances between the rain-fed olive trees in the study area (photo)
greater portion of this plantation lies on light soil, and since remotely sensed data
are insufficient and unqualified in spatial resolution, it is difficult to detect the
distribution of these plantations. It is also complex to represent them through
automated classification.
However, where there is water availability (prevalence of irrigation projects),
all types of cultivations and even gardens appear clearly on the satellite images
used in current study. Time differentiation of termination of the agricultural crop
rotation of rain-fed crops existed away from irrigation projects, compared to their
counterparts included in irrigation projects. Consequently, it was necessary to have
satellite image coverage to be compatible with the precise dates of the agrarian
crop rotation of rain-fed crops in April.
The satellite images did not allow discrimination between barley and wheat
fields, which were similar in relation to their spatial discrimination (the field areas
of each crop) and spectral discrimination (there were no clear differences in
spectral reflectance). These two major and strategic crops were planted widely in
rain-fed areas based outside the borders of irrigation projects. Yet, the situation
was different within the irrigation projects, as barley occupied few of the limited
irrigated areas, but was commonly planted. This led to change in the agrarian crop
rotation and its spectral behaviour, differentiating it from rain-fed wheat. This in
turn led to the possibility of spectral separation between irrigated wheat and barley
at the beginning of May, regarding the radiometric field measurements that proved
the possibility of separation (see Sect. 5.5.1 ).
The study area was divided into two almost equal sectors corresponding in the
western part with the second, third and fourth agricultural stabilization zones. The
eastern part matched the fifth agricultural stabilization zone, which included the
pasture Al-Badiaand the Syrian Desert. Each of these two general sectors corre-
sponded with distinct areas concerning land use and natural coverage. Applied
agrarian legislation was a factor, especially the total prevention of cultivation in
the fifth agricultural stabilization zone. These two sectors were almost homoge-
neous in relation to spectral reflectance on this scale.
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