Evaluation of Barley and Wheat Crops Land Suitability Using GIS and Remote Sensing Technologies: The Case of Duna District, Central Ethiopia Region, Ethiopia

The assessment of the suitability of arable land for sustainable intensive agriculture sustainable agricultural production using GIS and RS methods is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, the ultimate aim of this study was to evaluate the land suitability analysis of wheat and barley crops using GIS and remote sensing techniques in Duna district, southern Ethiopia. This study used secondary data types (land use, land cover, topography, soil, climate, and management factors. A weighted cumulative overlay analysis was then used to assess the crop produced to determine the suitability map in a GIS environment. The factors/criteria were evaluated in five classes from very suitable, up to permanently not suitable. The result of the determination showed that 115 km2 (51.7%), 120, 6 km2 (54.2%) and 95.4 km2 (43.84%), 18.3 km2 (8.22%) and 14.6 km2 (6.7%) and 75.5 km2 (33.9 %) of the study area were predominantly well suited, suitable and conditionally suitable for barley and wheat production, which exceeded 60% of the study area. Based on the analysis, there was extensive land suitable for wheat and barley cultivation in the district based on the current situation (factors). According to the result, it is concluded that favorable climate, suitable soil characteristics, suitability of existing arable land, better elevation, slope, and others were responsible for land suitability for the crops. For this reason, for the sustainability of land productivity and crop production, various incentives should be set by the concerning bodies and various stakeholders to improve the usability of the land according to the suitability assessment of this study.