Ecological Land Capability Evaluation for Agriculture and Range Management Using WLC Method (Case study: Onarchay watershed, Ardabil province)

Agriculture as an important part of the economy has a great role to achieve sustainable development using scientific methods and knowing environmental potentials. In this regard, there is a close relationship between agriculture development and environmental resources. Onarchay is one of the watersheds in the center of Ardabil province that has a critical role in local people’s livelihood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ecological land capability and determine the suitability rate for agriculture and range activities in Onarchay watershed in 2016.

First, by reviewing of the sources, 13 criteria for agriculture-rangeland capability evaluation were defined. In the next step, all of the criteria were imported to the Geographic Information System (GIS) with the same format and were standardized. Then, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and binary comparison matrix were used to weight to the criteria and sub- criteria and finally, all of the criteria were combined using Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) method.

Based on the results 11659 hectares (84/19%) for agricultural activity have very good to weak potential and 2189 hectares (15/81%) for rangeland activity have good, moderate and weak potential.

Results showed that there is no balance between current land use and land potential in Onarchay watershed.