Feasibility of Nigella sativa cultivation in Alborz province based on the combination of Geospatial Information System (GIS) and Fuzzy AHP
Subject Areas : Agriculture, rangeland, watershed and forestryafrooz alimohamadi 1 , hamideh khalaj 2 , mohammadreza labbafi 3 *
1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Agriculture and Environment, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran
Keywords: Feasibility Study, Nigella sativa, Alborz Province, Fuzzy AHP,
Abstract :
Regarding geographical, climatic and soil conditions, Iran is the habitat of many plant species, including medicinal plants. Studying the conditions affecting the growth of medicinal plants and determining suitable areas for their cultivation is one of the most essential factors in the management of agricultural lands in Iran. Nigella sativa is a medicinal plant belonging to the Ranunculales family. The seeds of this plant are used in traditional medicine to treat asthma, inflammation, diabetes and high blood pressure. The suitability of the climate for any plant in different region is an obligatory requirement for sustainable management. In the present research, a feasibility study of N. sativa in Alborz province based on GIS and Fuzzy AHP analysis using climatic criteria, including mean, maximum, minimum temperature and total precipitation, physiographies criteria, including height and slope, graphical criteria soil texture and pH and hydrological criteria including EC, pH and SAR were performed. Based on the integration of fuzzy data, a land capability map for Nigella sativa planting in Alborz province was prepared. The results showed that 46.87% of the region is in a completely suitable and suitable condition and only 15.02% of the province is unsuitable for Nigella. sativa cultivation in terms of the studied criteria.