Agricultural land use suitability analysis using AHP and GIS techniques at basin scale

This study aimed to investigate the suitable areas for agronomic practices using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and GIS technique in the Wabe Shebele basin, Ethiopia. Ten suitability determinant factors (i.e., soil depth, root zone plant-available water holding capacity (RZ-PAWHC), soil texture, major soil type, soil stoniness, slope and elevation, proximity to road and town, proximity to a water body) and two constraint layers (i.e., land use land cover and protected site) were employed for suitability analysis. The weights of determinant factors were determined in AHP based on experts’ opinions and literature. Slope (30%) was shown to be the most determining element, followed by soil depth (22%), for agricultural land-use appropriateness analysis in the research region. Then, after weighted overlay analysis has been made, the basin was qualitatively categorized as highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable, currently unsuitable, and permanently unsuitable for agricultural production with 18.08, 29.33, 35.65, 7.89, and 9.05% landscape, respectively. It was determined that among land being used for agricultural activities, 36.59 and 34.56% were categorized under highly suitable and moderately suitable, respectively. As a result, given the available agricultural land, selecting agricultural commercialization as a development option, which entails more comprehensive assessments of a suitable property, may be critical. The findings demonstrated that AHP is an effective approach for identifying appropriate land for agricultural activities in the research region. Yet, land use policy is substantial for efficient agricultural land use and management.