Document Type : Review
Author
Department of environmental science and engineering, factually of natural resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
There are 12 main soil orders in the world, of which only 7 have been identified in Iran. Due to the prevailing climatic conditions in the country—where more than 70% of the area is covered by arid and semi-arid climates—as well as the harsh topographic conditions, the majority of the country's land, after miscellaneous lands, belongs to three soil orders: Entisols, Aridisols, and Inceptisols.
Alfisols and Mollisols are exclusively found on the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains and the coastal plains of the Caspian Sea, which have humid and semi-humid climates, and their area does not exceed 3% of the country's total area.
Alfisols are suitable for agriculture, rangeland management, forestry, and afforestation. However, they have low potential for aquaculture (both warm-water and cold-water species) and are unsuitable for shrimp farming. This order has high potential for rural and urban development, moderate potential for industrial development, and is also suitable for tourism development.
Aridisols are unsuitable for rainfed agriculture, forestry, afforestation, warm-water and cold-water aquaculture, and shrimp farming. They have low to moderate capability for irrigated agriculture, rural development, and rangeland use. Their appropriate land uses include urban, rural, and tourism development.
Entisols have good potential for urban development, industrial development, and tourism, but they are unsuitable for other land uses. Rangeland and rural development are also possible to a limited extent.
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