Land evaluation based on GIS-spatial multi-criteria evaluation (SMCE) for agricultural development in dry Wadi, Eastern desert, Egypt

Abstract

Wadi Al Assiuti is one's of the almost promising developed areas in Egypt that is located at the East of Nile river-South Part of Asyut Governorates. It is bounded by longitudes 31°13' 42"-31°40' 12" E and latitudes 27°01' 35"-27°26' 45" N. The application of a GIS-Spatial Multi-Criteria Evaluation (SMCE) approach was used to identify the almost suitable areas for the production of maize, cotton, alfalfa, wheat, potato, tomato, guava and mango crops. Climate, relief, soil databases as well as specific criteria of the selected crops were integrated using GIS raster coverage’s. This information was used to obtain the criteria maps, that in turn were used as input into the MCE algorithm. Several decision support procedures in the GIS software were applied to obtain the suitability maps for each crop. Advanced tools such as Remote Sensing (R.S.), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) were used to produces geomorphology, soil and capability maps. Fourteen geomorphological units were recognized i.e., decantation basin, overflow basin, high recent river terraces, low recent river terraces, alluvial fans, levee, out wash plain, rubble terraces, wade bottom, wade plain, wades, hills, plateau and island. Using US Soil Taxonomy in 2010, two soil orders were identified-Entisols and Aridisols were represented by five great groups; Typic toriorthents, Vertic haplargids, Vertic haplocalcids Typic haplocalcids and Lithic haplocalcids. Five soil capability classes were recognized in the studied area C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6. The results showed a total of 1889.2, 5742, 2134 and 118 ha is optimal (S1) for the following crops; alfalfa, cotton, wheat and maize, respectively. On the other hand, mango, guava, tomato and potato were not realized as optimum crops in this area. Five capability classes i.e., C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6 were recognized in the studied area.