GIS-based regionalization of cultivated forages in Shaanxi Province, China

Improved animal husbandry is needed in order to fully modernize the agricultural sector in Shaanxi Province, China. The zoning of cultivated forage grass is an important strategy for addressing the shortage of high-quality forage grass and promoting the development of the Shaanxi grass cultivation industry. In this study we developed a model based on Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis, fuzzy mathematics, and analytic hierarchy process. Using topographic data, main meteorological data, and the soil properties of Shaanxi Province, we selected five main indicators that affect the growth of forage grass, including annual precipitation, annual average temperature, soil pH, topography, and slope. The cultivated forages in Shaanxi Province were systematically sorted out, and a zoning model for the suitability of cultivated forages with comprehensive module functions and strong adaptability was constructed. Four major cultivated forages, including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia), perennial ryegrass (Lolium), and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), were used as examples to carry out the model analysis. Crested wheatgrass was used as an example for verification. The results showed that this model is effective and could provide scientific predictions and decisions for the introduction of new forage varieties and the production of high-quality forage, as well as laying a foundation for the development of computer-assisted forage production in Shaanxi Province.