The Comparison of current land-use proposed of three methods such as Makhdoum, FAO and the Forest, range and Watershed (Case study: Watershed Zanjanrud and QarehPoshtelu)

An effective step for access to sustainable development is determining the land ability to optimize the using of land and prevent of its destruction due to unsuitable use of land. Assimilation of GIS capabilities and Land suitability methods of land proportion along with use of expert's knowledge can play important role in success and increase the reliability of results. In this research after theoretical and field study, providing information and necessary maps, Zanjan area was studied according to three different methods including; FAO land Suitability method, Makhdoumʼs land use Planning method and proposed method of forests, range and watershed management organization. At first; hypsometry, slop, aspects, soil characteristics, type and density of plant cover were synthesized in Arc GIS10.1 and final map of homogeneous units was gained. Then, using available standard tables for each method, map of prepared land was provided separately for control of range, agriculture, dry farming and afforesting and their accordance with present control was determined. The most accordance with agricultural application is relates to Makhdoum logistics and for land is relates to proposed method of forests, range and watershed management organization. Results of methods and their comparison with present application showed that main part of region has high potency for application of pastureland, which these the areas are currently under agricultural cultivation with low efficiency. Finally, in this Area, due to some deficiencies in FAO method, proposed method of forests, range and watershed management organization ,an adaptation from Makhdoum method, is more efficient than other methods.