Assessment of soil suitability for wheat cultivation using analytical hierarchy and sys1993 methods for desert soils

• The study evaluated the suitability of desert soils in Karbala, Iraq, for wheat cultivation using AHP and Sys1993 methods. • Field surveys and laboratory analyses were conducted on 10,000 ha with 12 representative pedons. • The Sys1993 method classified the entire area as unsuitable (N2). • The AHP method provided more realistic results, classifying all soils as moderately suitable (S2). • Soil texture, salinity, and calcium carbonate were identified as the main limiting factors. • The findings emphasize the importance of multi-criteria approaches for sustainable land management and food security. Assessing the suitability of desert lands for wheat cultivation in Karbala, Iraq, is crucial for addressing food security challenges. Such studies play a vital role in sustainable land management and optimizing the use of scarce natural resources. The study aimed to prepare spatial distribution maps to evaluate the suitability of desert lands for wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivation in the desert of Karbala, Iraq. A semi-detailed field survey was conducted in the holy karbala. A Global Positioning System (GPS) device was used to locate the pedons representing the selected sites. Twelve pedons were selected to represent the central concept of soil series, according to eight criteria (electrical conductivity, gypsum, calcium carbonate, organic matter, soil reaction, exchangeable sodium ratio, cation exchange capacity, and texture). The analysis revealed that the AHP-based suitability classifications were highly stable , with over 90% of the total study area maintaining the same suitability class (S2) after weight perturbation. Minor local variations were observed in a few sandy pedons that shifted between S2 and S3, particularly where EC and OM values were near threshold levels. The correlation between the original and modified suitability indices remained strong ( r = 0.94; R² = 0.89 ), confirming the robustness and reliability of the AHP weighting scheme in representing realistic field conditions. As for the suitable classes according to Sys 1993, all results were within the unsuitable class (N2), covering an area of 10,690.5 ha for the entire study area. In conclusion, these results are illogical compared to reality, while the AHP method was closer to reality.