Digital Mapping of Soil Fertility for Some Agricultural Lands by Using Fuzzy-AHP (FAHP) Techniques and GIS in Highly Calcareous Soil, Southwest Iran

Abstract

ABSTRACT The increase in population and decrease in agricultural land per capita requires intelligent management to increase production per unit area and higher productivity of land use to ensure food security. In this regard, evaluation of soil fertility and productivity is a prerequisite for sustainable agricultural development. The present study sought to investigate the soil fertility status of GIS-based Fuzzy-AHP(FAHP) techniques to assess the soil fertility status of wheat crops in Shadkam plain of Fars province. For this purpose 210 study samples from topsoil were collected and the most important chemical parameters affecting soil fertility were analyzed. According to the results, the most important limiting characteristics were OC, available phosphorus and soil pH. The application of FAHP method determined 4130.01 ha, 10.82% of land very high fertility class, 7615.30 ha, 19.95% high fertility class, 23942.30 ha, 62.77% moderately fertility class, and 2452.10 ha, 6.42% low fertility class. Thus, the fuzzy-AHP model is found to be of high accuracy for predicting soil fertility in the study area. Overall, it can be concluded that the preparation of a soil fertility map separately can be an effective tool and first step in soil fertility studies and the optimal use of fertilizers.