Ecological suitability evaluation and potential analysis of top-quality apple in Jiaodong mountainous areas at county level

The complicated topography of mountainous areas makes the spatial distribution of natural resources more non-uniform. Sound interpretation and modeling of natural resources in mountainous areas are the keys for restructuring of agriculture and optimization of resources utilities. Taking Qixia City of Jiaodong Peninsula as a case，the authors evaluated the suitability and analyzed the potential for local apple planting based on GIS. First, 1∶25000 scale Digital Elevation Model(DEM) was built. And the evaluation factors of slope, aspect were derived from DEM. Through the 63 meteorological point data of this area, the annual sunshine duration, average annual accumulated temperature (≥10℃) , annual precipitation and average temperature diurnal range between June and September were modeled through DEM. And the evaluation factors of soil texture, soil depth and soil organic matter were obtained from the digital soil types and field data. After that, the impacts of all the data on apple planting were evaluated, respectively, and synthetic impact of them using multi-factor integrated evaluation approach, and further potential analysis performed according to the zones divided and local status quo. The results show that there are a high ecological suitability degree and big development potential for apple planting in Qixia City. The acreage of the most and high suitable zone for apple planting was more than ninety thousand hectares(45% of the total area). And the tamable acreage in the zone between the most and moderate suitable for apple planting was more than fifty thousand hectares. These results provide guidances for local government in the adjustment of agricultural structure in characteristic development zones of apple planting.