Land suitability evaluation for sorghum crop by using GIS and AHP techniques in Agamsa sub-watershed, Ethiopia

Abstract

Land suitability analysis is one of the most beneficial applications in planning and managing land recourses. The main objective of this study was to assess suitable areas for sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) cultivation in Agamsa sub watershed, Northeastern Ethiopia by integrating an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods with Geographic Information System (GIS). Soil, climate and topographic characteristics were considered for suitability assessments in the study. The potential land suitability results showed that 116.65 ha (28.58%) and 291.47 ha (71.42%), of the area is highly suitable and moderately suitable for sorghum crop production respectively. The study has shown that the area is the potential for producing sorghum crops. However, it should be noted that the combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers, appropriate tillage management coupled with soil and water conservation measures should be taken into consideration to enhance the current land suitability of the study area and improve the yield of the selected crop. The soil map for land suitability designed in this study could be helpful in management decisions. However, the criteria considered for land suitability evaluation were mainly biophysical and, hence, further studies can be made by incorporating socio-economic variables to improve the suitability results of the study area.