Evaluation of land suitability for irrigation using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

Use of new techniques to evaluate irrigation areas can enhance water use efficiency in agriculture. In this study, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy Process (FAHP) was used to qualitative land suitability for sprinkler irrigation and was compared with the parametric method. Evaluation based on parametric method showed that an area of about ۱۵۹۷.۸۳ hectares (۳۱%) of the lands was highly suitable (S۱) and an area of about ۷۸۷.۳ hectares (۱۵%) was “moderately suitable” (S۲). About ۲۲۴۲.۹ hectares (۴۳%) were marginally suitable (S۳). Permanently inappropriate suitability included about ۵۴۶.۹۱ hectares (۱۱%). Inappropriate in present condition suitability matched no land in the study zone. Based on the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchical Process, there was not highly suitable (S۱) area in the plain. The parts with S۲ suitability also included an area of about ۴۳۲.۹۶ hectares (۸.۳%). Moreover, areas of about ۳۱۰۰.۹۸ hectares (۵۹.۹%) were marginally suitable (S۳). Some southwest and eastern parts of the plain were not currently suitable (N۱) that included an area of about ۱۲۷۷.۶۸ hectares (۲۴.۶%). N۲ suitability was also observed in some southern in two parts including an area of about ۳۶۳.۳۸ hectares (۷%). Since about ۳۱% of the lands were included as "highly suitable" areas based on the parametric method, and in contrast, there was no "highly suitable" areas in FAHP method, so considering the area of "highly suitable" shown that there was a significant difference between the two methods in terms of "highly suitable" land evaluation. Considering the gradual changes in soil properties, FAHP evaluation has higher accuracy than the ordinary parametric method in evaluating land suitability.

Keywords:

Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchical Process , geographical information system (GIS) , land evaluation , Parametric , Sprinkler irrigation