Assessment and zoning of suitable climate for economic development of cultivation of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) garden crop (Ardabil Province, Iran)

Abstract

This research was conducted to identify areas of Ardabil province susceptible for Helianthus annuus cultivation. The aim of this study was to identify climatic factors for H. annuus cultivation using TOPSIS method and zoning areas susceptible to cultivating this product using ArcGIS in Ardabil province. In this research, climatic data such as minimum tempera-ture, precipitation, and relative humidity were used along with slope, soil and altitude maps of 10 synoptic stations during 22 years (1994 to 2015). Weighing the layers was carried out using the TOPSIS method and the desirable climatic conditions of the H. annuus product, and a digital map of the data was obtained in the ArcGIS. Positive ideal map, negative ideal and final map of H. annuus cultivation in Ardabil province were prepared by integrating of maps in ArcGIS. The final results showed that about 25.89% of the prov-ince’s area is without limitation, 22.96% with a low limitation, 26.89% with a moderate limitation, and 24.77% with a severe limitation for H. annuus culti-vation. As a result, the cultivation of this product was without limitation in terms of temperature and relative humidity and is faced with limitation in terms of water requirement supply.