Land suitability analysis for wheat and sorghum crops inWogdie District, South Wollo, Ethiopia, using geospatial tools

摘要

Land suitability analysis is the process of evaluation of a specific area of land in terms of suitability for a defined use. Land suitability analysis for agricultural crops is an important modern step to identify suitable and sustainable land use practices in order to get optimum benefits out of the land. In the present study, physical land suitability analysis for wheat and sorghum crops in Wogdie District, South Wollo in Ethiopia, was made using geospatial techniques. Parametric square root test mathematical formula was applied to identify suitability levels of the land for these crops. Factors considered in the evaluation were depth, texture, organic carbon, drainage and type of soil, slope, temperature, and rainfall. Out of the total extent of 1101 km~2, 20.5 and 79.5 % of the extents were classified as moderately suitable and marginally suitable, respectively, for wheat, and 3.3, 93, and 3.7 % of the extents were classified as moderately suitable, marginally suitable, and currently not suitable for sorghum, respectively. In the present study area, no land was classified as highly suitable and currently and permanently not suitable for wheat, and highly suitable and permanently not suitable for sorghum. Results of the present investigation indicate that long-term irrigation activities would affect land suitability for agricultural potentiality of the area. Integrating parametric square root test method with geospatial technology in land suitability analysis for agricultural crops can be used as a useful tool to select areas for different crop production in various landscapes.