Abstract


Determination of Suitable Areas for Range Improvement Practices using GIS Case Study: Torab Basin, Iran

Sara Shamshiri
NETPA Consulting Engineers Compan
Tehran, Iran
Email: sarashamshiri@hotmail.com

M. Tahery
NETPA Consulting Engineers Compan
Tehran, Iran

M. Beidokhti
NETPA Consulting Engineers Compan
Tehran, Iran

F. Karimkhani
NETPA Consulting Engineers Compan
Tehran, Iran

B. Naimi
NETPA Consulting Engineers Compan
Tehran, Iran

H. Esmaeel Zadeh
NETPA Consulting Engineers Compan
Tehran, Iran

A.Ziaee
NETPA Consulting Engineers Compan
Tehran, Iran


Abstract
One of the way of determining land's suitability and potential is via using Geographic Information System (GIS). In this paper, we have tried to find suitable areas for different types of range improvement practices such as sowing, complex seeding, planting seedlings, and exclosure areas in order to achieve better range condition. To reach this goal, different base information layers consist of slope, geology, soil hydrological groups, land components, land use, and erosion intensity were combined in ArcGIS environment, so that a homogeneous unit layer was obtained. With reference to the suitable conditions for each type of range improvement practices in the case study, this layer was analyzed and queried so that land potentiality layer was obtained. Then precipitation and water recourses were also taken into consideration to give us the final layer. We have used this method in some basins in Iran consisting of Torab Basin, which is in arid and semi arid regions with 4773 hectares. In this region range productivity and land cover percentage decreased with heavy grazing and incorrect utilization so flood and erosion occurred. Since villagers' income is mostly based on their herds and then their farmlands, all these problems together contribute to the villagers' emigration. With improvement practices, range conditions and consequently villagers' income will be highly promoted. Key word: Geographic Information System (GIS), range improvement practices, land's suitability, range condition, Torab Basin.