An integrated TOPSIS and fuzzy logic model for evaluating the rationality of sloping land use types in Bac Kan province

Abstract

This article employs an integrated model of fuzzy logic and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to evaluate the rationality of sloping land use types in Bac Kan province, encompassing planted forests and cropland. Soil samples were collected from 30 locations in Ba Be, Bac Kan, and Na Ri districts on January 12-13, 2024, to analyse soil quality components for the integrated model. The integrated model has been evaluated objectively and reliably based on the proposed set of criteria, addressing the limitations of consistency when determining the weight set and the permutation in the ranking results when used separately. Fifteen criteria are proposed to evaluate the rationality of sloping land use types in Bac Kan province, comprising 11 criteria for environmental values, two criteria for economic values, and two criteria for social values. Model results indicate that the most reasonable land use type for crops is intercropping cereal crops with Glycine max, while the most reasonable land use type for forestation is the mixed wood forest with shrubs or legumes. The rankings have been verified by their similarity with the opinions of numerous experts and authors studying sloping land in Vietnam.
Thus, the model results can be utilised for planning purposes and to facilitate decision-making processes and tools in sustainable agriculture and forestry development in the sloping land of Bac Kan province.