Performance Comparison of multi-index decision-making (TOPSIS - AHP) for suitable site selection cultivation planting of Pistachio in Mokhtaran plain of Birjand in GIS environment

Regarding great resistance against thirsty and salt, pistachio as one of the most productive agricultural products has a great role in economic and social conditions of yeomen who work in dry and semi-dry areas. Mokhtaran plain in south Khorasan is one of the areas that has focused on planting this product. This research has tried not only to division areas capable of producing pistachio with multi criteria decision making approaches (TOPSIS and AHP) in GIS, but find and represent the best approach among those two approaches. This research is practical and description-analysis, and has used one of the two mentioned approaches nominating for areas capable of planting, after collecting and preparing different information. Results have shown that according to AHP approach, 469 KM2 of Mokhtaran plain has no limitation, and 568 KM2 of it has a little limitation, and other three parts: 694, 467, and 288 KM2have great limitation for planting pistachio. However, according to TOPSIS approach, 263 KM2 of Birjand`s Mokhtaran plain has no limitation for planting pistachio, 97 KM2 has little limitation, 486 KM2 has average conditions, and 651, and 989 KM2 has great and extreme limitations. Comparison of these two approaches showed that according to existing state of planting pistachio and areas that has division according to natural conditions, AHP approach is more suitable and accurate for this production.