Optimizing Crop Selection for Small Scale Farmers Using Neutrosophic Hypersoft Set Theory and Cubic Spherical Neutrosophic Sets
Emails: fsmarandache@gmail.com; kalinsbaskaran1985@gmail.com; anandakumardurai30@gmail.com; selvanayaki.natraj@gmail.com; mskrishnaprakash@gmail.com
Abstract
This study addresses the inherent challenges of uncertainty, vagueness, and imprecision in real-world decision-making, particularly focusing on the problem small-scale farmer’s face in optimally selecting short-term crops across diverse planting seasons. The central challenge is the absence of a systematic framework to evaluate multiple, often conflicting, criteria such as initial investment, expected yield, market demand, water and soil requirements, specific fertilizer needs, and pest susceptibility. To overcome this, a robust Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework is introduced, integrating Cubic Spherical Neutrosophic Sets (CSNS) with Neutrosophic Hyper Soft Sets (NHSS). The research proposes the cubic spherical neutrosophic Bonferroni mean operator as a novel geometric representation for aggregating neutrosophic sets, which enables a more refined modeling of uncertainty and indeterminacy in complex environments. Cubic Spherical Neutrosophic Sets embed neutrosophic information within a spherical structure using interval-based (Truth, Indeterminacy, Falsity) triplets and a radius, offering robust aggregation and ranking capabilities. Neutrosophic hypersoft sets further enhance logical expressiveness by associating each multi-parameter tuple with a neutrosophic triplet, effectively managing complex multi-attribute decision-making tasks with deep interdependencies. The applicability and effectiveness of this approach are demonstrated through a practical case study involving the selection of the most suitable crop for different climatic zones (Pattams) in Tamil Nadu, considering agricultural, environmental, and economic factors. Expert linguistic assessments are converted into neutrosophic values and aligned with seasonal cropping patterns. A subsequent sensitivity analysis confirms the robustness of the model, revealing a perfect correlation between the outcomes of different decision-making methods and thereby validating the consistency and reliability of the proposed approach. This context-aware, data-driven tool aims to enhance decision-making, improve resource utilization, reduce risks, and promote agricultural sustainability and improved farmer livelihoods.
Keywords: Soft sets; Hypersoft sets, Neutrosophic Soft sets; Neutrosophic Hypersoft sets