Evaluation and Optimization of Land Use Pattern (Case study: Golroudbar Watershed, Semnan Province)

Land use optimization is one of the appropriate methods for soil conservation which helps decision makers and watershed planners in order to make the optimum decision among different land uses. The main objective of this research was to find the optimum area of each land use to reduce soil erosion rate as well as to increase the income of stakeholders in Golroudbar watershed located in Semnan province of Iran. The linear programming model was used in three different scenarios including current land use condition without any land management plan, current land use condition with land management plan and the standard land use level. The results showed that in the optimized condition, the orchard land 28.85 percent, rangelands 74.12 percent and irrigated lands 283.78 percent were increased. Additionally, by optimization of the land in standard condition, soil erosion decreased 16.28 percent and the profitability increased 94.58 percent.