Quantitative land Evaluation on Dryland Agricultural Research Station of Maragheh for Rainfed Wheat by using Parametric Methods

Abstract

Quantitative land Evaluation on Dryland Agricultural Research Station of Maragheh for Rainfed Wheat by using Parametric Methods

Akbar Haghighati Maleki
Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (DARI)
Maragheh, P.O.box 119, Iran

Abstract
Quantitative land suitability evaluation for rainfed wheat was carried out on 500 ha lands of Maragheh Dryland Agricultural Research Station. The main objective of the study was identification of land suitability classes and limitation factors for wheat production in the region. Detailed soil survey studies and climatological figures were used as the physical parameters, as compared with the requirements of wheat using the standard rating tables of Sys and parametric methods proposed by FAO in 1973. The Square root and Storie index methods were used for calculation of the parameters on parametric method. The common farming systems in the study area are mainly Wheat–Chickpea and some alternative Cereal-Legumes and fallow. The results showed that there are tow recognized soil series namely Chohraq and Rejal Abad and 5 soil phases. Availability of soil moisture at early and the end of growing season and also low organic matter content, seems to be main constrains and most limiting factors on wheat production in the region. This land evaluation method (FAO, 1973) has shown to be a relevant evaluation method for certain crops in Iran. Based on the findings of present research the results of Parametric, Square Root method is more acceptable and practically has a good correlation with the farmer’s field’s production. Also the results of this study showed that the rating tables proposed by Sys in 1993 must be revised and calibrated for the region.