Multi-criteria GIS-based land suitability analysis for rice cultivation: a case study in Guilan Province, Iran.

ABSTRACT

Ensuring food security and sustainable resource management has become a paramount global concern, prompting significant attention to land suitability analysis for enhancing agricultural production. In this study, an AHP-weighted overlay method was employed to delineate rice cultivation suitability in Guilan province, Iran, a central hub for rice production. Sixteen climatic, topographic, and soil variables were integrated, and individual maps were reclassified to align with the specific requisites for rice production. The results revealed three suitability classes including 'very suitable,' 'suitable,' and 'moderately suitable', covering 91%, 6%, and 3% of the land, respectively. Soil attributes, particularly organic matter, significantly influenced suitability (weight value of 0.745), with topographic and soil factors outweighing climate in assessment. While salinity is generally absent, organic matter deficiency affects 44% of the land. Phosphorus imbalances are prevalent, with potassium toxicity observed in 10%. Microelement deficiencies, especially in iron and zinc, are noted. Additionally, the results indicated that topographic and soil attributes played a more significant role than climate-related factors in assessing land suitability for rice cultivation within the study area. This research provides a comprehensive spatial analysis of all variables in the study region, shedding light on the complexities of land suitability for rice cultivation. These findings contribute to the understanding of agricultural sustainability and resource management strategies in the context of food security.