A review on land suitability mapping for agriculture crops using geospatial and multi criteria evaluation technology

Abstract

Land Suitability Mapping (LSM) is a systematic approach to categorize specific land areas according to their suitability for particular uses. The assessment of crop suitability in agriculture is a crucial method for fostering agricultural advancement and planning for the future. This evaluation aims to ascertain the appropriateness of land for cultivating a specific crop within a designated region, taking into account various factors such as soil characteristics, climate conditions, topography, socio-economic factors, infrastructure, irrigation facilities, current land use and land cover, as well as environmental considerations. This paper discusses several multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) techniques, including the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP), Analytic Network Process (ANP), Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), and Elimination Et Choice Translating Reality (ELECTRE). These approaches are integrated with geospatial technologies, specifically remote sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), to assess land suitability for various crops. The review findings indicate that the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is the most widely used method, favored by 52% of researchers. Other techniques employed include Fuzzy AHP (FAHP) at 12%, Analytic Network Process (ANP) at 4%, Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) at 5%, and ELECTRE at 2%. Furthermore, 15% of researchers opted for multiple techniques from these options, while 10% experimented with various other methodologies. This review provides a valuable reference for researchers and decision-makers, assisting them in selecting the most effective methods and standard parameters for evaluating cropland suitability, ultimately contributing to sustainable agricultural productivity improvements.