Zonation of land capability for saffron cultivation using fuzzy logic (case study: Khezeabad, Iran)

One of the main goals of sustainable agriculture projects is poverty reduction, discrimination among different regions in the context of environmental protection. Land capability assessment is the first step in the process of sustainable development. Due to the physiological properties of saffron, its resistance to drought and high temperatures, its role in socio-economic status and considering the vast dry climate area in the country, this analytical study was conducted to determine the land capability for saffron cultivation. For this aim, in the form of fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making methods, Bonissone method was used to determine land capability in every land use. In this method, the required information layers were provided in ArcGIS software. Then the data was fuzzed using Chen and Huang method. Following the procedure fuzzy analysis was performed on data and finally fuzzy data were become to no fuzzy and estimation of potential land capability was conducted. The obtained results showed that that a total of 785 km2, 365 km2 (46.56%), 321 km2 (40.9%) and 98.4 km2 (12.54%) have suitable, average and relatively unsuitable ability for Saffron cultivation respectively. The results showed the efficiency of fuzzy logic to assessment land capability. The results of this study provide better planning to minimize the effects of the destruction caused by culture development projects and can create condition that provide balance among development and environment projects according to the priorities and zonation of land capability.