Climatic Potential of Banana Tree Cultivation (Case Study: Sistan and Baluchestan province)

Banana growing areas are located in subtropical climates between 20 and 30 degrees north or south of the equator. Considering that Sistan and Baluchistan province is located in the latitude of 25 to 31 degrees north, it can be suitable for banana cultivation. In this regard, the main goal of this research is to identify the climatic potential of Sistan and Baluchistan province for banana tree cultivation using agroclimatic indices. In this study, two methods of AHP and Boolean logic of the province's climate were used to evaluate the agroclimatic indices including growing degree days (GDD), biologically effective degree days (BEDD), sum of active temperatures (SAM), cumulative temperature difference (TD), water vapour pressure deficit (WVPD), and potential evapotranspiration (PET). The results of the research showed that with the AHP method, 17% of the area of the province (Dashtiari, Chabahar, Konarak and Zarabad cities and parts of the south of Rask, Qasrqand and Nikshahr cities) is very suitable for banana cultivation and 8% is suitable for banana cultivation (northern half of Sarbaz, Rask and Nikshahr counties). Also, the results of this research showed that in Bolin logic, 10% of the studied area (Dashtiari, Chabahar, Konarak and Zarabad cities and parts of the south of Rask, Qasrqand and Nikshahr cities) are suitable for banana tree cultivation in the province. Currently, banana cultivation areas are less than 1% of the area of the province, which is not consistent with the results of this research. Therefore, based on the results of this research, the areas under banana cultivation in the province can be increased.