Potential zoning of applicable areas for modern irrigation systems development using AHP and GIS methods in the Zaydoon Poldasht Plain-West Azerbaijan Province

Subject Areas : Water resource management

Ahmad Abdullahpur ¹ , Sakineh Jabbarpour ^{2 *} , Rostam Aghazadeh ³

1 - Department of Agricultural Management, Mak.C., Islamic Azad University, Maku, Iran
2 - Department of Agricultural Management, Mak.C., Islamic Azad University, Maku, Iran
3 - Department of Agricultural Management, Mak.C., Islamic Azad University, Maku, Iran

Received: 2025-06-26 Accepted : 2025-10-06 Published : 2025-11-27

Keywords: Modern irrigation systems, Multi-criteria decision-making, GIS, AHP, Water resource management, Zaydoon Plain,

Abstract :

This research aimed to zone the potential areas for modern irrigation system development in Zaydoon Poldasht Plain, West Azerbaijan Province. Given agricultural water management challenges and the plain's significance as a major agricultural hub and the Middle East's largest horticultural complex, identifying optimal areas for efficient irrigation systems is crucial. An integrated approach combining the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) multi-criteria decision-making method and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was employed for potential assessment and suitability mapping. Five main criteria and 11 sub-criteria, including water characteristics (quality/quantity), soil properties (texture, slope, EC), climatic conditions (wind speed), socio-economic factors (land ownership and access to facilities), and cropping pattern, were weighted based on 36 provincial experts' opinions via AHP pairwise comparison questionnaires. AHP analysis revealed that soil texture, available water yield, water electrical conductivity (EC), and wind speed are the most influential factors for modern irrigation system development suitability in Zaydoon Plain. Integrating these layers with AHP weights in GIS generated the final zoning map. This map indicated that approximately 60% of the plain's area is suitable/highly suitable for modern irrigation systems (especially drip irrigation), while 40% was deemed unsuitable. Suitable areas primarily possess light to medium-textured soils, low slopes, good access to acceptable quality water (EC < 3 dS/m), and favorable socio-economic conditions. This study emphasizes the strategic and effective role of AHP-GIS integration in regional planning and sustainable water/soil resource management. Finally, to enhance water productivity and ensure sustainable agricultural development in this vital region, the prioritization and promotion of drip irrigation system establishment in identified suitable areas are recommended.

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