Localization of Aellenia subaphylla C.A.Mey. plantation in winter rangelands of Golestan province, Iran

The aim of localization of rangeland species plantation is to predict the potentials and limitations of rangelands for plantation. Aellenia subaphylla is resistant to drought and salinity. It produces considerable forage in winter rangelands. In this research, the geographic information system and two methods of classic and fuzzy logic were used to locate this species in winter rangelands of Golestan province in 2018. At first, the needed information and layers were collected, and the required maps were prepared. Then, according to the ecological requirements of A. subaphylla, the layers for the classic method were classified into two appropriate and inappropriate classes, while for the fuzzy method classified into inappropriate, proportionate, appropriate and perfectly suitable classes. Then, by combining the classifieds layers, the final maps were obtained using Boolean and fuzzy logic method. Localization of A.subaphylla using classic logic indicated that 47.5% of the winter rangelands of Golestan province are suitable and 52.5% are notsuitable for plantation of A.subaphylla. However, the fuzzy logic demonstrated that 15.8% of the studied rangelands are highly suitable, 13.8% are suitable, 26.2% are moderately suitable and 44.2% are notsuitable for A.subaphylla plantation. The results demonstrated that high soil salinity, soil acidity and temperature conditions are limiting factors for A.subaphylla plantation in degraded winter rangeland of Golestan province. It was found that the fuzzy logic gives better and more accurate results than the classic method, so it is recommended to localization of suitable areas for rangeland species plantation.