Determining land suitability for pistachio cultivation development based on climate variables to adapt to drought

Abstract

Land evaluation based on its characteristics is a criterion for the proper use of land potential. The high benefit and low water requirement of pistachio has significantly increased its cultivation area in Iran. The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of lands for pistachio cultivation based on climatic variables in four provinces, which located in northwestern part of Iran. The climatic requirements of pistachio were specified based on its phenological information. Then, the suitability map of pistachio cultivation zones, spatially modeled in GIS environment based on long term of meteorological data. Subsequently, the results were verified due to field survey and interviews with farmers. The results showed study area classified into three categories from suitable (class S1), moderate suitable (S2), and non-suitable (class N) based on FAO land capability guidelines. So, accuracy of suitability map was validated by overlaying of spatial information of existing pistachio orchards. The results indicated that 33, 33.4, 60, and 12.4% of the East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, and Ardabil provinces are suitable for pistachio cultivation (class S1), respectively, while the area of unsuitable class (class N) in these provinces was 40, 34.7, 22.7, and 62%, respectively. It was found that the temperature and relative humidity during pollination and growth periods are the main limiting factors for construction of pistachio orchards. The obtained maps can be used as a guide to prevent the planting of pistachios in unsuitable areas and consequently save water consumption in drought conditions.