Qualitative land suitability evaluation of the Khajeh research station for Wheat, Barley, Alfalfa, Maize and Safflower

Abstract

Land suitability assessment was conducted for irrigated wheat , barley, alfalfa, maizeand safflower in Khajeh research station of Tabriz in East Azarbaijan by using of SimpleLimitation method (SLM), Limitation Method regarding Number and Intensity (LMNI) andparametric (PM) such as square root and storie methods. According to results obtained ofapplied method, a climate characteristic of the region was high suitable (SI) for safflower,moderately suitable (S2) for wheat, barley and alfalfa and marginally suitable (S3) or nonsuitableclasses (N2) for maize. In this study economic factors have been excluded andmoderate management has been assumed. Results also confirmed that the most criticallimitation factors for determined crops include OC, salinity, sodicity alone, or incombinations, however, in safflower suitability evaluation CEC can be added to thesefactors. Therefore for irrigated wheat (salinity and sodicity) for barely (OC, salinity andsodicity) for alfalfa and maize (climate, OC and salinity) and for safflower (OC, salinity andCEC) are the main limitation factors with different limitation degree. Overall, salinity andOC are the most important limiting factors. Qualitative evaluation of land for barely, wheatand alfalfa in both SLM and LMNI mainly showed S2-S3suitability classes based on climate,OC, salinity and sodicity, while in parametric square root method with effect of minimumfactor rating and square root of other factors, the suitability classes are S3 and in some caseN1 or N2. Also results for maize (N1-N2) and safflower (S3-N) in parametric method aredifferent from SLM and LMNI. Therefore cultivation of irrigated wheat, barley, alfalfa canbe recommended respectively.