Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Scientific Board, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Markazi, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute, Iran
3 MSc, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan University, Iran
Abstract
Increasing in production and welfare of rural household along with soil erosion mitigation are the most important objects of a watershed management program. Land use optimization is an efficient approach that leads to a sustainable development plan. In this research, the land use optimization was applied using a two-objective linear programing model and geographic information systems by Lingo 11.0 software in Adineh-Masjed Shahzand watershed of Markazi province, Iran. The model was defined with three scenarios of current conditions, applying management conditions, and standard conditions for two objectives of maximizing net benefits and minimizing soil erosion. Results showed that the annual soil erosion decreased by 1.27, 18.69 and 26.93% in current land use, land use management, and standard land use conditions, respectively. Also annual net income decreased by 18.56% in current land use; but increased by 48.01 and 220.07% in land use management and standard land use conditions, respectively. Considering weighting value of decreased soil erosion of 1.27% that is less than weighting value of decreased net income in current conditions, land use optimization with no management practices or land standardization is not justifiable.
Keywords
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