GIS-based land suitability evaluation for finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) in Kandhamal district, Odisha

Abstract

This article examines the suitability of land for cultivating finger millet (Ragi) in the Kandhamal district. The study employs a land suitability model in accordance with the guidelines established by the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) and using GIS techniques [1, 2]. The assessment of land suitability for finger millet in Kandhamal district takes into account various factors, including the physical and chemical properties of the soil, climatic conditions, and the topography of the region. Covering an area of 8,021 km², the district is categorized into different suitability classes for the purpose of analysis. These classes are determined based on rainfall, temperature, and elevation within the study area, with the findings discussed in this paper.