Evaluation of land suitability for irrigation using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

Use of new techniques to evaluate irrigation areas can enhance water use efficiency in agriculture. In this study, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy Process (FAHP) was used to qualitative land suitability for sprinkler irrigation and was compared with the parametric method. Evaluation based on parametric method showed that an area of about 1597.83 hectares (31%) of the lands was highly suitable (S1) and an area of about 787.3 hectares (15%) was “moderately suitable” (S2). About 2242.9 hectares (43%) were marginally suitable (S3). Permanently inappropriate suitability included about 546.91 hectares (11%). Inappropriate in present condition suitability matched no land in the study zone. Based on the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchical Process, there was not highly suitable (S1) area in the plain. The parts with S2 suitability also included an area of about 432.96 hectares (8.3%). Moreover, areas of about 3100.98 hectares (59.9%) were marginally suitable (S3). Some southwest and eastern parts of the plain were not currently suitable (N1) that included an area of about 1277.68 hectares (24.6%). N2 suitability was also observed in some southern in two parts including an area of about 363.38 hectares (7%). Since about 31% of the lands were included as "highly suitable" areas based on the parametric method, and in contrast, there was no "highly suitable" areas in FAHP method, so considering the area of "highly suitable" shown that there was a significant difference between the two methods in terms of "highly suitable" land evaluation. Considering the gradual changes in soil properties, FAHP evaluation has higher accuracy than the ordinary parametric method in evaluating land suitability.