Optimal Crop-Planting Area Considering the Agricultural Drought Degree

Abstract

The optimal allocation of crop area can improve the management of agricultural water resources for sustaining agricultural productivity and sustainable development. In this study, an approach that integrated the multiobjective optimization model with an orthogonal experimental design was developed for decision makers to choose the optimal crop area under limited water and land resources. The approach was developed in three stages—(1) preparation stage; (2) calculation stage; and (3) decision-making stage—and included five steps: (1) data collection; (2) establishment of an optimal model; (3) orthogonal experimental design; (4) screening; and (5) decision making. The agricultural drought degree, which can reflect the drought conditions of the irrigation district, was introduced to the established model in Step 2 as a social objective. Furthermore, a village called Qu, which is part of the Yellow River water irrigation district and is located in the southwest of Puyang city, Henan province, China, was taken as an example to demonstrate the approach.