Classification of the general viability of agricultural land in Aqrah district using the Agricultural Spatial Decision Support System (DSS Microlies)

Abstract

"Aqrah district is one of the districts of Dohuk governorate, and astronomically it is located on the coordinates of the two circles of latitude {36:31:56} and {37:02:56} north, and longitude {43:54:56} and {44:18:65} to the east. The study area consists of 261 villages, distributed in four sub-districts: Al Markaz district (Aqrah city), Dinarata district, Bijil sub-district and Kordasin sub-district, as agricultural activity is the most prominent profession among the vast majority of the residents of the district villages that own about (261256) dunums of arable land, of which approximately (35733) dunums are designated for irrigated agriculture, and (20 056) dunums are cultivated with winter grain crops, especially (wheat and barley), depending on the amounts of rain that fall annually, so Aqrah district is classified as a guaranteed area. The rain falls quantities ranged between (400 - 900) mm, while the rest of the agricultural lands, which amounted to (23467) dunums, were exploited in the cultivation of fruit orchards such as (figs, pomegranates, walnuts, peaches, apricots, grapes) which Aqrah district is famous for. While the area of land that is not suitable for agriculture is about (49695), It is distributed over rocky lands, pastures, natural and artificial forests, but the application of the Microlies system methodology has revealed the presence of new levels of productive capacity for soil in Aqrah district"