Land Use Planning of Piranshar, Pasveh and Jaldian Using Decision Support Models

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

         Land evaluation and its suitability determination for specific land-uses is one of the management procedures and sustainable agriculture development that enables the managers and applicants not only for planning to increase the production but also to focouse on the future optimum and continous use.The aim of this research is using the Terraza, Cervatana and Almagra models as decision support models within the MicroLEIS to create geo-referenced maps for the purpose of land use planning in an area with 37775 ha extension, which is located in 36°30´ to 36°50´ North latitude and 45°05´ to 45°25´ East longitude. Based on each model effective parameters, bioclimatic deficiency, land capability and qualitative land suitability were determined using above mentioned models. The results of Terraza model showed that rainfed cultivation is not possible for all studied land uses (sunflower, maize and soybean). Also, considering some of the manegement recommendations such as identifying the sensitive time of crops for irrigation, reduce the water consumption without any negative impacts on annual yield. According to Cervatana model results, 91.35% of total area was distinguished as good to excellent, while 8.65% of the area due to soil, slope and erosion limitation factors was classified as moderate  to well lands. Following the land evaluation process, the unsuitable lands determined by Cervatana model are introduced to be stablished as rangeland or forest to prevent the soil degradation.Therefore, qualitative land suitability evaluation of susceptible lands using Almagra model revealed that 10.21% and 89.79% of total area can take place in suitable (S2) and moderately suitable (S3) respectively by soil texture, carbonate, useful depth, drainage and profile development factors. 

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