Mapping the ecological land capability using GIS and comparison with current land use map (Case study: Goni watershed)

Determining land capability based on land suitability, climatic characteristics, and soil physical and chemical properties is considered as a method of achieving sustainable management. In this study, FAO model was used to determine land capability. To describe the spatial results, Geographical Information System (GIS) was used. Spatial data, as maps, and descriptive data, as database table, were entered into the GIS environment. The results of current land suitability model for irrigated agriculture and garden land use showed that 64.5% was in N2 class, 17.86% in N1 class, 17% in S3 class and 0.64% in NR class. For dry farming land use, 64.5% was in N2 class, 18.86% in S3 class, 17% in S2 class, and 0.64% in NR class. For rangeland use, 32% was in S3 class, 32.5% in N1 class, and 35.5% in NR class. For forest land use, 64.5% was in N1 class and 35.5% in NR class. From overlaying the current land use map with the current land suitability map, it was found that only 25.5 % of irrigated agriculture land use, 82 % of dry farming land use and 30.3% of rangeland use were consistent with their land suitability map, being exploited properly