Agricultural Land Use Suitability Analysis for Maize Production Using GIS and AHP Techniques in Bali Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Agricultural land use suitability, Maize production, GIS and AHP techniques, Soil physicochemical parameters, Suitability classes
Abstract
The study assessed agricultural land use suitability for maize production in Bali Local Government Area, Taraba State, using GIS and AHP techniques. It aimed to examine the terrain's physical characteristics, soil physicochemical parameters, spatial variation in soil suitability, and the extent of land suitable for maize production. A descriptive survey design was employed, with a multi-stage sampling approach. Soil samples were collected at 50-meter intervals across nine political wards, air-dried, crushed, and filtered for analysis. Physical and chemical parameters were examined, and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to determine the relationship between five thematic layers and their attributes. The final suitability classes were analyzed using Weighted Sum Overlay in ArcGIS 10.3 to produce the final suitability map. Results revealed diverse topography with elevations ranging from 112 to 1558 meters, slope variations from 0 to 73.5 degrees, and land surface temperature (LST) ranging from 26.5° to 38.7°. Predominant soil types included Ferric Acrisol, Ferric Luvisols, Fluvisols, Lithosols, and Numic Nitosols, with distinct properties influencing maize cultivation suitability. Nitrogen levels ranged from 0 to 0.2, organic carbon content from 0 to 1.7, and soil depth from 15 to 42 centimeters. Analysis of sand, silt, and clay percentages, textural classes, bulk density, particulate density, and total porosity provided insights into soil structure. Soil type emerged as the most crucial criterion, followed by soil depth and slope. Approximately 50.75% of the land was highly or very highly suitable for maize production. The study recommended integrated land management practices and soil fertility enhancement programs for local farmers and commercial entities.
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Published
2025-04-25
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Bwadi, B. E., Moses, J., Yusuf, M. B., Bala, A. S., Rimamskep, Q. U., & Ezekiel, F. B. (2025). Agricultural Land Use Suitability Analysis for Maize Production Using GIS and AHP Techniques in Bali Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. European Journal of Science, Innovation and Technology, 5(2), 119-145. Retrieved from https://ejsit-journal.com/index.php/ejsit/article/view/634
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Copyright (c) 2025 Benjamin Ezekiel Bwadi, John Moses, Mohammed B. Yusuf, Alfred Susan Bala, Queen U. Rimamskep, Favour B. Ezekiel
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