Agricultural Land Suitability Analysis for Maize Crop by Using GIS Technology in Case of Debub Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Food security is the current problem that affects the socio economic standard and living condition of the society. Land suitability analysis is a method of land evaluation which measures the degree of appropriateness of land for a certain use. The aim of this study was to identify and delineate the land that can best support maize production by using GIS technology. The study was carried out in Debub Gondar zone in Ethiopia. Even though agriculture is the main economic activity in the study area, its productivity is insufficient because some of the crops being introduced are not doing well. For this study, three specific objectives were mentioned. These are; identify the suitable area of maize in the study area, identify the unsuitable area of maize in the study area and compare current maize production with suitable and unsuitable area. To accomplish these study four parameters were used such as soil, slope, temperature and rainfall. The parameters were analyzed by ArcGIS 10.3 software. As result the largest portion of the study area was unsuitable for maize production and some part of northern, north western and eastern part of study area was partially suitable for maize production. Finally, we recommended that the concerned bodies should cultivate maize around the suitable part of the study area.

Keywords: Debub Gondar, GIS, Maize, Suitability

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-4-01

Publication date: April 30^th 2021