Qualitative and Economical Land Suitability Evaluation for Important Field Crops in Shahrekord Area, Using ALES Program

In addition to qualitative and quantitative land suitability evaluation، economical evaluation can be carried out as well، based on net or gross benefit per surface area unit. The present research was done to evaluate land suitability، qualitatively and economically،، by different methods for irrigated maize، wheat، potato and barley in Shahrekord area. In this regards، qualitative land suitability class was determined by matching land characteristics with the studied crops growth requirements، using simple limitation method and ALES program. Economical land suitability evaluation was carried out، using «internal rate of return»، «gross profit»، «net present value» and «benefit/cost ratio» methods which are included in the ALES program. The results showed that qualitative suitability class in all of the studied land units for irrigated maize، wheat and barley is S2 and for irrigated potato in 73% of the units is S2 and in 27% of them is S3. As the «net present value» method is used، % 73 and % 27 of the land units are classified as S2 and S1، respectively for all of the studied crops. For wheat and maize، all of the land units are classified as S1، as gross profit، benefit/cost ratio and internal rate of return methods are used. For potato and barley، using gross profit and internal rate of return methods، % 73 and % 27 of the land units are classified as S2 and S1، respectively and as the benefit/cost ratio method is used، economical land suitability class in all of the land units is S1.