Determining the Most Appropriate Rice Transplanting Method in the Paddy Fields of Gilan Province Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Subject Areas : Sustainable production technologies

Roohollah Yousefi ^{1 *} , Afsaneh Berenjkar Gorabi ²

1 - Assistant Professor, Rice Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rasht, Iran.
2 - Ph.D. Graduate in Geography and Rural Planning, Rasht, Iran.

Received: 2025-10-20 Accepted : 2025-12-17 Published : 2025-12-19

Keywords: Agricultural Mechanization, Analytic Hierarchy Process, Effective Field Capacity, Operational Cost, Rice, Seedling Transplantation,

Abstract :

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare different rice seedling transplanting methods in the paddy fields of Gilan Province and to identify the most suitable option using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Three transplanting methods—manual, walking transplanter, and ride-on transplanter—were assessed based on a set of technical, economic, and operational criteria to determine the relative importance of each criterion in transplanting efficiency.

Material and methods: In this study, three seedling planting methods were assessed based on nine key criteria, encompassing technical, economic, and operational aspects. Data were gathered through a questionnaire and the insights of 30 experts, and were subsequently analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Expert Choice software.

Results: The results indicated that effective field capacity (0.278) and labor requirement (0.146) were the most important criteria. Overall, the ride-on transplanter performed best in field capacity, labor reduction, operational cost, spacing uniformity, and ease of operation. The walking transplanter was superior in energy consumption, while the manual method scored highest only in the criterion of usability in small or irregular plots.

Conclusion: The ride-on transplanter was identified as the most efficient and advantageous method for rice seedling transplantation in Gilan Province. This method offers the greatest benefits to farmers by increasing field capacity and reducing labor and operational costs. The findings suggest that adopting mechanized transplanting methods can play a significant role in improving both the productivity and sustainability of rice production.

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