Physical Geography Research

Physical Geography Research

Application of Agroclimatic Indices for Assessing the Climatic Potential of Rice Cultivation in Different Climates of Iran: A case study of Mazandaran and Khuzestan provinces

Document Type : Full length article

Authors
Roghaye Alipour
Saeed Bazgeer
Masoumeh Moghbel
Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jphgr.2026.406961.1007924
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Mazandaran and Khuzestan provinces play pivotal roles in Iran’s rice production, ranking first and third nationally. In this research, the agricultural and climate data in Khuzestan during 2000-2020 and Mazandaran during 1999-2020 were used for assessing rice cultivation potential. Climatological indices, including GDD, SAT, BEDD, were calculated using the mean daily temperature, and ranges of agro-climatological indices were classified based on the minimum and maximum yield. Using Pearson's correlation coefficient, the relationship between climatological indices and rice yield was evaluated. The results revealed that Amol and Qarakhil in Mazandaran province which recorded the highest yields (5035 and 5130 kg/ha, respectively) during the study period with the range of GDD=1566, GDD=1561, SAT=2586, SAT=2772, BEDD=915, and BEDD=1033 has the greatest cultivation had the greatest potential for rice cultivation compared with other areas of the province. These areas were characterized by GDD values of 1566 and 1561, SAT values of 2586 and 2772, and BEDD values of 915 and 1033, respectively. However, the western parts of Mazandaran province included areas with relatively low cultivation suitability. In addition, the results of this study showed that the central parts of Khuzestan province, including Ahvaz and Shushtar, with yields of 4161 and 4252 kg/ha, respectively, exhibited high climatic suitability for rice cultivation, with GDD values ranging from 2903 to 2965, SAT values ranging from 3953 to 4015, and a constant BEDD value of 945. The eastern parts of the province also have relatively favorable climatic conditions for rice cultivation. The results of this study showed that the simultaneous use of SAT, and BEDD along with GDD is useful for evaluating the thermal requirements of rice at different growth stages and identifying areas with suitable climatic conditions for rice cultivation.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Rice cultivation have long held a prominent position in the Iranian diet due to the nutritional importance and widespread consumption of this staple food. The average annual per capita rice consumption in Iran is estimated at approximately 30 kg. Mazandaran and Khuzestan have a major share in the country's rice supply and are ranked first and third in terms of production. In 1978, in order to optimize the use of land, water and other resources, the World Food Organization presented a model under the title of ecological-agricultural zoning, and after numerous researches and tests in 1983, it was recommended for all countries. In this research, rice cultivation potential has been evaluated based on climatic profiles in two poles of rice production in the country (Mazandaran and Khuzestan provinces).

Methodology
The study area comprises two provinces, Mazandaran and Khuzestan. Mazandaran Province is located in northern Iran, with Sari as its capital, extending along the southern coastal strip of the Caspian Sea. Mazandaran province is divided into three main geographical zones: mountainous, foothill, and plain areas. During the study period (1988–2010), the mean annual precipitation in Mazandaran is 682 mm, while the lowest mean precipitation is 195 mm, which occurred in the eastern and high-altitude areas of the province. In contrast, the highest mean precipitation, approximately 1465 mm, was recorded in the western part of the province. The mean annual air temperature is approximately 17°C. Khuzestan province, with Ahvaz as its capital, is located in southwestern Iran. The province covers an area of approximately 64236 km2. In terms of topography, the province is divided into three main regions: plains, foothills, and mountainous areas. The mean annual precipitation of the province during the statistical period (1370–1396) is 284 mm. The mean annual air temperature is 25.3°C. The mean minimum and maximum air temperatures are 18.2°C and 32.4°C, respectively. The mean absolute maximum and minimum air temperatures are 53.7°C and −8.4°C, respectively. Agroclimatic indices were calculated using daily temperature data for the two provinces of Mazandaran and Khuzestan. These two provinces were selected because of their different climatic conditions. To calculate Growing Degree Days (GDD), Sum of Active Temperatures (SAT), and Biologically Effective Degree Days (BEDD), daily minimum and maximum air temperature data were used for Mazandaran province during 1379–1399 and Khuzestan province during 1378–1399. The growth stages from transplanting to harvest in the two provinces include transplanting, tillering, stem elongation, heading and flowering, milk and dough development, and physiological maturity. Tarom is the predominant rice cultivar in Mazandaran province and Anbarbo is the predominant cultivar in Khuzestan Province. Using the Weibull empirical formula and considering a reference date for the first day of transplanting, the Julian day was calculated. For Mazandaran province, the first day of transplanting was considered 1 Ordibehesht (April 21) in Amol and 15 Farvardin (April 4) in Qarakheil.

Result and discussion
The results obtained from the maps and correlations showed that in Khuzestan province, the two indices of growing degree days and total active temperatures play the greatest role in plant performance, while the BEDD index had no relationship with the changes in yield values. In Mazandaran province, no significant relationship was observed between the changes in the degree of growth days and total active temperatures, but in Nowshahr station, a significant relationship was observed at the level of 0.05% with yield. In Izeh station of Khuzestan province, Kiasar and Siah Bisheh of Mazandaran province, the height above the sea level has caused a decrease in temperature in these stations, and therefore in Izeh station it has caused a decrease in yield and in Kiasar and Siah Bisheh, it has caused arable lands to be cultivated due to lack of proper yield. Ranges and classes determined in this research for different rice cultivation areas in two provinces are different according to different climatic conditions. According to the obtained results, better results can be achieved in cultivation by shifting the cultivation date and providing other conditions and factors, including the selection of resistant and compatible cultivars in each environment. According to the selected data, the results of this study are consistent with those reported by Jin et al. (2005), Ali et al. (2009), Sultana et al. (2019), Boonwichai et al. (2019), Abhilash (2017), and Kaur and Dhaliwal (2014).

Conclusion
The results of this research showed that environmental factors play a significant role in determining cultivation areas and sometimes these factors act as limiting cultivation conditions or as facilitators in cultivation areas. Considering the high potential of rice cultivation in the central and semi-eastern parts of Mazandaran and Khuzestan provinces, the central parts of Khuzestan province should focus on these areas and increase the cultivated area in them. In Mazandaran province, the two stations of Siah Bisheh and Kiasar encountered negative temperatures at the beginning of the rice planting period, and therefore the plant suffers from cold stress. In the selection of rice varieties, it is expected that by allocating the cultivated area to the lands that can be cultivated in these two stations, it will be possible to cultivate rice to be a turning point for the income of the farmers in these areas.

Funding
There is no funding support.

Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.

Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments
We sincerely thank the reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions, which greatly improved the manuscript.
Keywords
Rice
Crop calendar
Khuzestan
Mazandaran
Agroclimatic indices
Subjects
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Physical Geography Research
Volume 58, Issue 3
Autumn 2026
Pages 81-100

  • Receive Date 11 June 2026
  • Revise Date 29 August 2026
  • Accept Date 08 October 2026