Qualititative, quantitative and economical land suitability evaluation for wheat and rice production and assessment of their environmental impacts in Zarrinshahr and Mobarakeh Isfahan Province

Land suitability evaluation is the fitness of a given tract of land based on its potential for a defined use. The objective of this study were to define the qualitative, quantitative and economical land suitability evaluation of Zarrinshahr and Mobarakeh located at the west of Isfahan province and assessment the environmental impacts of the questioned land utilization types. The economical evaluation included collecting the economical data, comparison of inputs and outputs and analysis of gross income. Potential yield was calculated using the method proposed by F.A.O. The result of potential yield analysis showed that the potential yields were determined 9.01 and 11.01 t/ha for wheat and rice production, respectively. The quantitative land evaluation and their classes were defined according to incorporating observed yield and marginal yield with the qualitative evaluation results. The predicted yield varied from 1.3 to 6.7 and from 0.7 to 4.6 t/ha for wheat and rice, respectively. High correlation between the observed yield and predicted yield indicated the appropriate selection of the factors and evaluation approach. Based on the quantitative evaluation, most of the land unit’s wheat was identified that had more suitability in the study area. The cultivation of rice is not recommended in the study area, because of negative environmental impact including soil physical destruction, non-efficient water consuming, arising of ground water surface and increasing soil salinity.