GIS-Based Physical Land suitability analysis for major Oilseeds: A case of Dawro Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Identifying suitable land for agricultural activity is expected to change the lives of farmers and to play an important role in building the country's economy. Hence, to get the optimum benefit out of the land, the degree of land suitability has to be assessed. A GIS assisted land suitability assessment will help farmers and institutions involved in crop development to decide which crop to use on which land. The focus of the study was to allocate how much suitable land is available for oil crops to enable local farmers in oilseed production. Thus, the study used eleven factors selected from climatic, topographic, socioeconomic, and soil parameters within weighted overlay in GIS spatial analyst tool to arrive at the final physical land suitability of oil crops. Factors that were considered in the study were altitude, rainfall, temperature, soil PH, soil drainage, soil texture, soil depth, LULC, slope, road accessibility, and market centers. The result indicated that 4%, 10%, and 1% of the study area were highly suitable for niger, flax, and sesame crops respectively. Moderately suitable area for niger, flax, and sesame accounts 64%, 57%, and 53% respectively. The marginally suitable land for niger, flax, and sesame covered 14%, 14%, and 28% respectively. As the degree of limitations increases, the lands needs additional soil improvement practices or goes through improved varieties to increase the productivity of the crops. The share of suitable land for oilseeds development in all eleven woredas has been shown. Small plots of land where the farmers expected to use oilseeds in shifts have been identified. As long as there is such suitable land, it will be effective if the farmer engages in oilseed farming. Thus, from this study, it is possible to correct the deficiencies in the development and production of oilseeds. This means that the identification of suitable potential land for farming is professionally supported by local agricultural development