Land suitability evaluation for irrigating wheat by Geopedological approach and Geographic Information System: A case study of Qazvin plain, Iran

Year 2017, Volume: 6 Issue: 3, 275 - 284, 01.07.2017

Sayed Mousavi Feraidon Sarmadian Zohreh Alijani Abass Taati

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.297251

Cited By: 4

Abstract

Land evaluation, using a scientific method, is
essential to recognize the potential and limitation of a given land for
specific use in terms of its suitability, and certifies its sustainable use.
The soil is such a source that its renewal takes a long time, so effective use
of soil and land resources requires a thorough understanding of the effective
morphological processes of soil forming in different regions. The current study
identified available soil in the area in terms of interpretation of aerial
photographs and Geopedological approach. After mapping the geoform area, 61
profiles of the designated area were drilled and sampling was done for all
diagnostic horizons. Then, the samples were transported to the laboratory for
Physico-chemical analysis. By the end of the profile classification process,
which was based on the Soil Survey Staff
(2014), the soil map, was prepared by integration of the soil data and the
geoform map in ArcGIS software. There are several limiting factors for wheat in
Qazvin plain, namely; electric conductivity (EC), gypsum, coarse fragment, soil
depth, soil organic carbon (SOC), texture, calcium carbonate and climate. The
map of the land units was prepared, and land requirements for the type of
utility were calculated. Land suitability evaluation was performed according to
FAO. The results showed that land unit’s number 17 and 18 were unsuitable (N1)
for irrigating wheat with limiting factors such as; high levels of EC and
gypsum in the studied profiles. Moreover, the land unit’s number 10, 20, and 23
are suitable (S₁) for the wheat production and have the highest rate
of predicted yield.  

Keywords

Geopedological approach, land units, land evaluation, parametric method, soil map

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