Viticultural land use planning in Valdepenas, Spain, by using geographic information systems

This paper deals with how to set up and use a Geographic Information System to help decision-making aiming at improving the use of land growing vines, integrating information derived from different sources: infrastructures, environment, fanning area distribution, crop yields, weather parameters, geomorphology, land use, hydrology, and social and economic indicators. Valdepenas is a "Designation of Origin "area of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, in which wine is granted with a genetic name given to a specific agricultural food product which meets certain requirements as to its origin, the way it is processed and its quality. The growing area spreads over 30000 ha in 10 municipal districts. There are 70 wineries, 34 of which bottle wine. The altitude is 700 similar to 800 in above sea level and the climate continental semiarid. The system was laid for a monitoring program through the analysis of the distribution, production and outcome of time rates related to agronomy, economy and social affairs. Once the GIS ready, grapevine growing areas were preliminary ranged according to physiography, fanning capability and grape variety which best fit to the different agricultural situations. This paper is part of the research work that is being developed by initiative of the vine growers of the region.