Primary Production Estimation of Çankırı Province’s Rangelands Using Light Use Efficiency (LUE) Model with Satellite Data and AgrometShell Module

In this study, monthly and annual gross primary production (GPP) of rangelands in Cankiri province for the period of 2000-2009 was calculated using light use efficiency (LUE) model with the inputs of satellite data and AgrometShell module. The average production of rangelands varied seasonally and annually (from 12630 to 37701 tons) and was approximately 17800 tons for the last ten years. The amount of rainfall and changing number of animal grazing in the region probably led to the variation. Model performance was tested with integrated normalized difference vegetation index (INDVI) approach which produced a moderate significant correlation (R2= 0.69, P 0.05 for 2008, r= 0.41, P>0.05 for 2009) due to some factors such as sampled plant type, scale differences between satellite data and ground sample size, and subjective sampling errors. This study indicates that LUE Model together with the inputs of AgrometShell module is suitable tool for estimation of rangeland primary production.