Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Horticulture Crops Research Department, Kordestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sanandaj, Iran.
2 Soil and Water Research Department, Kermanshah agricultural and natural resources research and education center, AREEO, Kermanshah, Iran
3 Soil and Water Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
Abstract
Optimal utilization of production factors is considered one of the fundamental pillars of sustainable development. The increasing pressure on soil resources due to the population growth, industrial development, and the limitation of agricultural lands makes the optimal and sustainable use of soil essential. Kurdistan Province, as one of the agricultural hub, is suitable for the development of orchard. The aim of this research is to determine the land suitability for the development of walnut, almond, apple, pear, grape, and cherry orchards in 3,000 hectares of the downstream lands of the Azad Dam to establish the optimal planting patterns. This study seeks to establish optimal planting patterns using the FAO standard method for land suitability assessment. Climatic characteristics, slope, flooding, drainage, texture/structure, coarse fragment, soil depth, CaCO3, pH, EC and organic carbon were examined in this study. Results show that in the relatively suitable class (S2), almond occupy the largest area with 561.4 hectares; in the critical suitability class (S3), walnut cover 679.4 hectares; and in the unsuitable class (N), pear account for 1,275.1 hectares representing the most significant area. This crops have no limitations in terms of salinity and alkalinity. The minimum and maximum climatic limitations correspond to almond and pear, respectively. The most important limiting factors for these crops include slope, soil depth, and texture. In steep land with deep soil, following soil conservation principles can enhance effective utilization and improve the land's suitability class. In steep lands of the region, if there is appropriate soil depth and the principles of soil conservation are implemented, it is possible to reduce the limitations of slope and improve land suitability classes.
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