Qualitative land Suitability Evaluation of Karkaj Research Station for Sugarbeet, Onion and Sufflower by Simple and Parametric Square Root Methods

In this research work qualitative land suitability evaluation was carried out for sugarbeet، onion and sufflower at Karkaj Research Station which is located at 12 kilometers distance from the East of Tabriz. Soil and climate data were collected from11 soil profiles at research farms and Khalat Poushan climatological Station، respectively. Sugar beet، onion and sufflower growth of landscape، soil and climate requirements were determined using Sys et al tables and qualitative suitability classification of this crops were done by simple limitation and parametric square root methods. The results showed that the study area climate was highly suitable for onion and sufflower and moderately suitable for sugarbeet. Therefore determination of final suitability classes depend on soil، land properties، cultivation and management. Based on simple limitation method moderately (S2) and marginally (S3) suitable areas are 9 and 91 % for sugarbeet respectively. In the area 18، 45. 45، 18. 2 and 18. 35% are moderately (S2)، marginally (S3)، conditionally (N1) and permanently (N2) unsuitable for onion respectively. Also 82 and 18% of the study area are marginally suitable (S3) and permanently unsuitable (N2) for sufflower respectively. In square root parametric method، 45. 45% of the area S3 and the remain area (54. 55%) are unsuitable (N) for sugarbeet and 18. 2% of area S2، 45. 45% S3 and 36. 35% are N for onion، but 45. 45% of area S3 and 54. 54% are N for sufflower. According to the obtained results climate is highly suitable for onion and sufflower and moderately suitable for sugarbeet. In addition، pH and %OC are also important limiting factors in the area.