Evaluation of rapeseed cultivation potential with analytical hierarchy process model and TOPSIS in Mazandaran Province, Iran

Rapeseed cultivation is growing to provide edible oils in temperate regions of Iran. In current study, environmental potential of Mazandaran Province was evaluated for rapeseed cultivation. The climatic data of the synoptic and climatological stations of the province such as temperature, rainfall, day-growth rate, sunshine, freezing days and relative humidity from 2001 to 2015 related to each phenological stage of rapeseed and environmental capability data such as land use capability, soil depth, elevation, slope and its direction were collected. To prioritize and evaluate the criteria for rapeseed cultivation, a hierarchical process analysis method was used. Then, weighing of the prepared layers based on the criteria and model, spatial analysis of information was carried out using TOPSIS model in GIS environment and a final evaluation of land suitability for canola cultivation was prepared. Finally, Mazandaran province was divided into four unlimited, low, moderate and high-limited regions for rapeseed. The results showed that a large part of Mazandaran Province has ecological potential for rapeseed cultivation.