HAWASSA UNIVERSITY

WONDO GENET COLLEGE OF FORESTERY AND NATURAL RESOURCE

Senior seminar on land suitability analysis for wheat crop production in Shashemene
Zuria district, Oromia Region.

Submitted to School of Natural Resource and Environmental Studies

For Partial Fulfilment of BSc in Geographic Information Science.

Submitted by: Shimelis Sishah (ID: GIS/0036/06)

Under supervision of Habitamu Tadesse

January 2016,
Wondo Genet, Ethiopia.
Table of Contents pages
List of figures........................................................................................................................................................ii
List of tables..........................................................................................................................................................ii
Acknowledgment..................................................................................................................................................iii
Abbreviation.........................................................................................................................................................iv
Abstract................................................................................................................................................................. v
1. Introduction...................................................................................................................................................1
1.1. Background................................................................................................................................................1
1.2. Statement of the problem................................................................................................................................2
1.3. Significance of the Study................................................................................................................................2
1.4. Objective........................................................................................................................................................2
1.4.1. General Objective........................................................................................................................................2
1.4.2. Specific Objectives......................................................................................................................................2
2. Literature review...............................................................................................................................................3
2.1. Suitable Land and Crop production................................................................................................................3
2.2. Land suitability assessment............................................................................................................................3
2.3. Land Suitability Analysis and Land use Planning...........................................................................................3
2.4. Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM).....................................................................................................3
3. Materials and Methods......................................................................................................................................4
3.1. Description of the study area..........................................................................................................................4
3.1.1. Location.......................................................................................................................................................4
3.1.2. Population....................................................................................................................................................4
3.1.3. Climate........................................................................................................................................................4
3.1.4. Land Use......................................................................................................................................................5
3.1.5. Soil type.......................................................................................................................................................5
3.2. Materials used.................................................................................................................................................5
3.3. Data collection................................................................................................................................................5
3.4. Data analysis...................................................................................................................................................5
3.4.1. Land suitability classification......................................................................................................................6
3.4.2. Selected dataset according to wheat crop requirement.................................................................................6
3.4.2.1. Temperature..............................................................................................................................................6
3.4.2.2. Rainfall.....................................................................................................................................................7
3.4.2.3. Digital elevation model.............................................................................................................................8
3.4.2.4. Slope.........................................................................................................................................................9
3.4.2.4. Elevation.................................................................................................................................................10
3.4.2.4. Land use.................................................................................................................................................10

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3.4.2.5. Soil type..................................................................................................................................................12
3.5. Weighted overlay..........................................................................................................................................13
3.6. Straight Rank Sum Method...........................................................................................................................13
4. Results and Discussion....................................................................................................................................14
5. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................................15
6. Recommendation.............................................................................................................................................15
6. Reference.........................................................................................................................................................16

List of figures
Figure 1: Location map..........................................................................................................................................4
Figure 2: Tempreture.............................................................................................................................................7
Figure 3: Reclassified Tempreture.........................................................................................................................7
Figure 4: Rain fall..................................................................................................................................................8
Figure 5: Reclassified Rain fall.............................................................................................................................8
Figure 6: Digital Elevation Model.........................................................................................................................9
Figure 7: Slope......................................................................................................................................................9
Figure 8: Reclassified Slope................................................................................................................................10
Figure 9: Reclassified Elevation..........................................................................................................................10
Figure 10: Land use Land cover..........................................................................................................................11
Figure 11: Reclassified land use land cover.........................................................................................................11
Figure 12: Soil type............................................................................................................................................12
Figure 13: Reclassified soil type..........................................................................................................................13
Figure 14: suitability map....................................................................................................................................15

List of tables
Table 1: Materials..................................................................................................................................................5
Table 2: Criteria of land suitability analysis for wheat crop in Shashemene area..................................................6
Table 3: Weighted Table.....................................................................................................................................14

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 Acknowledgment
First, I would like to offer my special thanks to God. Next to God, I would like to thank
my mother for providing me special expenses for my education. Secondly, I would like
to express my very great appreciation to my advisor Habitamu Taddese for his valuable
and constructive suggestions during the planning and development of this research
work. His willingness to give his time so generously has been very much appreciated.
Finally, my special thanks are extended to all my classmates to help me in data
collection and analysis.

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Abbreviation

MCDM Multi criteria decision making

GIS Geographic information science
USGS United States geological survey
SRTM Shuttle radar topographic mission
GPS Global positioning system
DEM Digital elevation model
GLCF Global land cover facility
FAO Food and agricultural organization

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 Abstract
Land suitability analysis is basics for sustainable agricultural production. It involves evaluation of
different parameters involved in the suitability analysis. These parameters are evaluated according to
their suitability arrangement adapted from different scientific research. Multi criteria evaluation
method is used to evaluate different parameters such as rain fall, soil type, slope, tempreture, land use
land cover and elevation. This research is tried to address identifying suitable site for wheat crop and
factors that affect this crop production. Lands that are delineated as suitable is free of those affecting
factors for production of wheat crop and areas that are not suitable are not fully enough free of the
affecting factors. To generalize most part of the study area is classified as moderately suitable for
wheat crop production due to unfavourable condition of different parameters.

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 1. Introduction

1.1. Background
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East but now cultivated
worldwide (Shewry, 2009). Genetic analysis of wild einkorn wheat suggests that it was first grown in
the Karacadag Mountains in south eastern Turkey (C. Michael Hogan, 2013). It was one of the first
crops that could be easily cultivated on a large scale, and had the additional advantage of yielding a
harvest that provides long-term storage of food (Stanley Cauvain, 2003).Wheat is a grass that grows
between 2 and 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 meters) tall. The physical appearance of the grain is familiar to most
consumers, with a long stalk that terminates in a tightly formed cluster of plump kernels enclosed by a
beard of bristly spikes. The plant is an annual, which means that at the end of each year, fields must be
ploughed and prepared again to grow the grass (Mary McMahon, No date).

Ethiopia is the largest wheat producer in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hailu et al., 1991). Wheat is one of the
major cereal crops grown in the Ethiopian highlands. According to USAID report 2010, wheat is
produced solely under rain fed conditions. Of the current total wheat production area, 75% is located in
Arsi, Bale and Shewa regions. Small amount is produced in the rest of the north and south regions.
Altitude plays an important role in the distribution of wheat production through its influence on
rainfall, temperature, and presence of diseases. In Arsi, Bale and Shewa regions, the soil, moisture and
disease conditions within the range of 1900-2300 m altitude zone are favourable for the production of
early and intermediate maturing varieties of bread wheat. This is estimated to comprise 25% of the
total wheat production area, while the remaining 75% falls in the 2300-2700 m altitude zone.
Agriculture is important as a source of food and income, but How, Where and When to cultivate are
the main issues that farmers and land managers have to face day to day. Land evaluation is carried out
to estimate the suitability of land for a specific use such as arable farming or irrigated agriculture. Land
evaluation can be carried out on the basis of biophysical parameters and/or socio-economic conditions
of an area (FAO, 1976). Theoretically, the potential of land suitability for agricultural use is
determined by an evaluation process of the climate, soil, water resources, topographical, and
environmental criteria given and the understanding of local biophysical restraints (Ceballos Silva and
Lopez Blanco, 2003). Planning and management of the land use suitability mapping and analysis is
done by application of GIS (Geographic Information System) (McHarg, 1969). The GIS-based land
use suitability analysis has been applied in a wide variety of situations including ecological approaches
for defining land suitability for crop production (Store and Kangas, 2001),
The problem of selecting the correct land for the cultivation of a certain agriculture product is a long-
standing and mainly empirical issue (Pirbalouti, et al., 2011). Although many researchers and
institutions have tried to provide a framework for optimal agricultural land use, it is suspected that
much agricultural land used currently is below its optimal capability in different parts of the world.
The classification of land into different capability classes is useful in that some soil, climate,
topographic and other attributes of land can be suitable for specific crops and unsuitable for others;
therefore precision, of land utilization types is necessary. However, capability is viewed by some as
the inherent capacity of land to perform at a given level for a general use, and suitability as a statement
of the adaptability of a given area for a specific kind of land use (FAO, 1976).

Land suitability is the fitness of a given type of land for a defined use. The land may be considered in
its present condition or after improvements. The process of land suitability classification is the
appraisal and grouping of specific areas of land in terms of their suitability for defined uses (Franzen et
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al., 2006). Suitability analysis in a GIS context is a GIS-based process used to determine the
appropriateness of a given area for a particular use. The basic premise of GIS suitability analysis is that
each aspect of the landscape has intrinsic characteristics that are to some degree either suitable or
unsuitable for the activities being planned. Suitability is determined through systematic, multi-factor
analysis of the different aspect of the terrain (Michael D and Murphy, 2005). The advent of modern
GIS and remote sensing technologies opened the door to the wide application of quantitative and
qualitative evaluation methods. Land can be evaluated on different levels from the fine one to guide
land management in the context of precision agriculture to the more course classifications to inform
regional land use planning and allocation (Franzen et al., 2006). In general, suitability is a measure of
how well the quality of a land unit matches the requirements of a particular form of land use (FAO,
1976).

1.2. Statement of the problem

Although, wheat is the most important crop in Ethiopia, the selection of suitable land for this crop
doesn’t meet the production system. So, it is better to select the suitable site by using GIS and
Remote Sensing technology for the production of wheat in Shashemene Catchment.

1.3. Significance of the Study

This research illustrates how GIS and Remote sensing technology can be applied in suitable site
selection for wheat production in Shashemene zuria area. So, land suitability analysis for the
production of wheat will support appropriate decision making on land allocation for different land uses
to increase productivity.

1.4. Objective

1.4.1. General Objective

To investigate land suitability for production of wheat in Shashemene Zuria area

1.4.2. Specific Objectives

 To identify factors that affect wheat production

 To conduct land suitability analysis for wheat production

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2. Literature review

2.1. Suitable Land and Crop production

The population of the planet is growing dramatically and in order to meet the increasing demand for
food, the farming community has to produce more and more. However, under present situation where
land is scarce, it is impossible to bring more area under cultivation to satisfy the growing demand
(Teka & Haftu, 2012). In order to increase food production and provide food security, crops need to be
grown in areas where they are best suited. In order to achieve this, the first and foremost requirement is
carrying out land suitability analysis (Njoroge & Murage, 2013). Land suitability analysis is a method
of land evaluation, which measures the degree of appropriateness of land for a certain use. The
analysis allows identification of the main limiting factors of crop production and enables decision
makers to develop crop management system (Halder, 2013).

2.2. Land suitability assessment

The term “Land suitability assessment” refers to the investigation of a certain part of land’s
appropriateness to a specific type of land use. This assessment involves many factors that directly or
indirectly control the ability of this part of land to host the land use under investigation. Performing
land suitability evaluation and generating maps of land suitability for different land use types will
facilitate to reach sustainable agriculture (B. Vargahan et al., 2011). An ecosystem needs an estimation
of quantity and quality of its resources and the suitability of these resources for a certain range of land
uses in order to assure its future productivity and biodiversity’s sustainability (S. Kilic et al., 2005). In
general, land suitability analysis can answer the questions “which” and “where”; which land use is to
apply under certain conditions and where is the best site to apply this land use. Enormous number of
studies has been done to assess the land suitability for different land uses such as different agriculture
crops (Rabia, A. H 2012).

2.3. Land Suitability Analysis and Land use Planning

Determining suitable land for a particular use is a complex process involving multiple decisions
that may relate to biophysical, socio-economic and institutional/organisational aspects. A structured
and consistent approach to Land Suitability Analysis is therefore essential. Abiotic, biotic, and socio-
economic factors decide the success of a crop. Judgments regarding crop value should include the
abiotic, biotic and socio-economic factors that determine the profitability. Land is unique at every place
and the land uses are affected by this uniqueness and the land evaluation can be useful for agricultural
support services (Rossiter, 1996).

2.4. Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM)

Agricultural crop suitability involves integration information from various streams of science. There are
many criteria upon which land suitability depends. The suitability analysis evaluates many alternative
land use types under the light of various criteria from various streams. Alternatives here are
competing with one another; criteria are both qualitative and quantitative. Decisions have to be
taken at various levels starting from selecting the land use types till the allocation of the land use
types for area that suit best. So the suitability analysis is a multiple criteria decision-making process.
Earlier, the multi-criteria land suitability was assessed more non-spatially, assuming the spatial

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homogeneity over the area under consideration. This, however, is unrealistic in cases like land
suitability studies, where decisions are made using criteria which vary across in space (Malczewski,
1999). Non spatial conventional MCDM techniques average or total the impacts that are judged
appropriate for the whole area under consideration (Tkach and Simonovic, 1997). To address the
spatial decision making, MCE and GIS can be integrated (Jankowski, 1995). MCE seems to be
applicable in GIS-based land suitability analysis) for different crops (Pereira and Duckstein, 1993).

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Description of the study area

3.1.1. Location
Shashemene is found in Oromia Regional State, West Arsi Zone, and located 250 km south of the
capital Addis Ababa, and 25 km north of Awassa, the regional capital of SNNPRS. The area lies
within the Rift Valley, with altitudes ranging from 1700 to 2600 metres above sea level (Teshome,
1999). It extends between 7º5ʹ8ʺ-7º22ʹ1ʺ N latitude and 38 º 24ʹ33ʺ-38 º 49ʹ03ʺ E longitudes.

Figure 1: Location map

3.1.2. Population
The national (2007) national census reported a total population for this town of 100,454 of whom
50,654 of were men and 49,800 were women.

3.1.3. Climate
The agro climatic zone of the study area ranges from weina dega to dega which characterize most of
the Ethiopian high lands. The rainfall distribution is bimodal having two rainy seasons per year which
means maximum rainfall from first June to the end of August and minimum rainfall from the
beginning of March to the end of May. The mean annual rainfall recorded by GTZ for 3 years (1999-
2001) was 1299.5mm and for the mean annual temperature were 16.75º c It receives an annual rainfall
of 700–950 mm, and has an annual temperature range of 12 – 27ºC (Teshome, 1999).
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3.1.4. Land Use
Major crops grown around Shashemene area are cereals such as teff, barley, wheat, maize, sorghum,
and root crops like potato and sweet potato and vegetables such as cabbage, spinach and onion as cash
crops. Annual crops are predominant and rain-fed agriculture is mainly practiced using draught power
(Teshome, 1999).

3.1.5. Soil type

The soils are volcanic origin, mainly consisting of alkali basalt and tuffs. The soil types are vertisoils,
mutosoils, terre soils and lepto soils (Teshome, 1999).

3.2. Materials used

Table 1: Materials

Materials/software Functions/ purposes

Satellite Image To prepare land use/ land cover map.

ArcGIS 9.3 Data management and analysis

Erdas Imagine 9.1 Image processing and preparation of land use /land cover map.
GPS To collect field data

3.3. Data collection.

In this study, various data types such as climate, topography, land use land cover and soil had been
collected from different sources. The climate data (rain fall and tempreture) of the study area had been
obtained from worldclim website within 1kilometere spatial resolution. This data had evaluated with
specified criteria so as to get suitable site for wheat crop in the study area. Topography of the study
area such as slope and elevation was used to characterize the altitude of the area. This data had gained
from digital elevation model (DEM) with 90metere spatial resolution which is obtained from shuttle
radar topographic mission (SRM), USGS website. In addition Satellite image of 2013 was obtained
from USGS website. This data had used to develop land use land cover map of the area. Finally soil
data of the study area such as soil ph, soil texture and soil depth was obtained from Wondo Genet
College of forestry and natural resources, school of natural resource and environmental studies.

3.4. Data analysis

Different dataset collected according to wheat crop requirement was analysed in different perspectives.
Rain fall, temperature, soil (physical), land use land cover and slope was reclassified according to their
suitable nature with respect to wheat crop. After all, these reclassified dataset was given weightage by
comparing one dataset from the other in order of their suitability adapted from different literature. So
as to give weight to each class straight rank system (SRS) method was used.

3.4.1. Land suitability classification

The land suitability classification, using the guidelines of FAO (1976) is divided into Order, Class, Sub
Class, and Unit. Order is the global land suitability group. Land suitability Order is divided into S
5
(Suitable) and N (Not Suitable). Class is the land suitability group within the Order level. Based on the
level of detail of the data available, land suitability classification is divided into, Highly Suitable (S3),
Moderately Suitable (S2), Marginally Suitable (S1) and Not Suitable (N1).
Table 2: Criteria of land suitability analysis for wheat crop in Shashemene area.

Suitability class
Dataset
Highly suitable Moderately Marginally Not suitable
(S3) suitable (S2) suitable (S1) (N1)
Temperature (C0) 16-17 15.5-16.5 and 15-16and 17-18 <15 and >18
17.5-18
Soil pH 6.5-7.5 5.5-6.5 and 5-5.5 <5.5
7.5-8.5
Slope (%) 0-4 4-8 8-12 >12
Soil texture(class) loam, clay loam , sandy loam and Loam sandy , sandy
clay and silty clay sandy clay silty loam, sandy
loam loam clay and silty
clay
Elevation(m) 1500-2000 1000-2000 2000-3000 >3000
Rain fall (mm) 1090-1200 1070-1090 1050-1070 <1050
Soil depth(cm) 65-100 65-50 50-25 <25

References: - Kalogirus S (2001), Bahagat RM et al., (2009), Sarkar A (2008), Ashraf S et al., (2010),
Rahman R and Saha SK (2003), Moore G et al., (2005), Deveye J et al., (1991).

3.4.2. Selected dataset according to wheat crop requirement.

3.4.2.1. Temperature
Temperature is one of the significant factors for the growing of wheat crop. Wheat crop grows best
when temperatures are warm, but not too hot (Britain encyclopaedia).Wheat also needs a lot of
sunshine, especially when the grains are filling. Areas with low humidity are better since many wheat
diseases thrive in damp weather. Temperature data of the study area was classified into four major
suitability classes and assigned one to five ranks where 4 was the most suitable and 1 was the least
suitable.

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Figure 2: Tempreture
It has the highest mean temperature of 18°c and the lowest mean temperature is about 15ºc
and also this temperature is reclassified again like other parameters to get the most suitable
temperature for wheat production and make it compatible with weighted overlay analysis.

Figure 3: Reclassified Tempreture

3.4.2.2. Rainfall
Wheat is a temperature crop but widely adapted to varying climate conditions. It needs cool, dry and
clear climate for better growth and yield. The rain fall of the study area depicted shows the highest rain
fall reaches 1200mm/year and the lowest rainfall being 1000mm/year.

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Figure 4: Rain fall

In order to assign the suitability classes the amount of rain fall perceived per year should be
reclassified into four major classes where 4 is the most suitable and 1 is the least suitable.

Figure 5: Reclassified Rain fall

3.4.2.3. Digital elevation model

Digital elevation model of Shashemene ranges from the lowest 1679 metre to the highest peak 2740
metre above sea level.

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Figure 6: Digital Elevation Model

3.4.2.4. Slope
Slope will be derived from DEM of the study area in a GIS platform by using surface analysis in
ArcGIS 9.3 software. The slope of Shashemene area ranges from zero percent (flat) area to 150 percent
(very steep).

Figure 7: Slope
The slope of the study area was reclassified according to percent rise of the area in order to get suitable
slope for wheat crop and classified into four classes.

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Figure 8: Reclassified Slope

3.4.2.4. Elevation
Elevation is one of the factors that affect suitability analysis for wheat crop production. Wheat crop is
grown at an elevation of more than 1500-2500 meter above sea level (Percival, 1921).

Figure 9: Reclassified Elevation

3.4.2.4. Land use

Land cover data of a study area shows how much of the land is covered by forests, wetlands, town’s
agriculture, and other land and water types. Water types include wetlands or open water. Land use
shows how people use the landscape whether for development, conservation, or mixed uses. In this
10
case I could focus on agricultural land use types rather than other land uses because wheat crop is
grown on different agricultural land use.

Figure 10: Land use Land cover

Reclassification is an abstract representation of the situation in the field using well-defined diagnostic
criteria. Land use land cover of the study area reclassified in arrangement of land cover into groups or
sets on the basis of their relationships. From all land cover type agricultural land cover given higher
value because wheat crop is grown agricultural part of the land cover type.

Figure 11: Reclassified land use land cover

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3.4.2.5. Soil type
There are different soil types in Shashemene area such as, Vertisols, Andosols, Fluvisols, Leptosols,
Luvisols, Nitosols, Swamps, and Water Bodies. These soil types has their own characteristics which is
essential for agricultural production.

Figure 12: Soil type

It is important to relate the characteristics of different soil type, Vertisols, Andosols, Fluvisols,
Leptosols, Luvisols and Nitosols, with its texture. Soils that have loam, clay loam and silty clay loam
textures are preferred for the production wheat crop, whereas sandy soil textures is not well. Vertisols
have high content of clay loam texture. Due to the high clay content of expanding character the caution
exchange capacity of the whole soil is high. A high clay content is also associated with slow
permeability but the water adsorption is high (kanwarJ.S. and virmani S.M, 1986). Soils having high
clay content is more suitable for wheat crop production (Moore G, 2005).
Aandosols is one of volcanic soil type which contains amorphous clays, issued from the transformation
of volcanic materials. These amorphous clays present very different structures and physical properties
compared to usual clays.
A Leptosol is a shallow soil over hard rock, very gravelly material or highly calcareous deposits. They
are found mainly in mountainous regions or in areas where hard rock comes close to the surface.
Because of limited pedogenic development, Leptosols have a weak soil structure.
Fluvisol refers to loose soil or sediments that have been eroded and reshaped by moving water and
moved to another area. Alluvial soil has been found to contain iron ore, gold, platinum, gemstones and
tin ore. Typically, alluvium sediment is younger than the rock on which it lands and can therefore
cause confusion as to the age of the rock underneath and in the surrounding area. These soil is fertile
having a high yield potential for agricultural production.
Luvisols are a characteristic soil of forested regions; identified by the presence of alluvial minerals,
where silicate clay is accumulated. These soils differ from other types of soils in the amount of Ca
(calcium) present in the parent material.

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So, in general vertisols and andosols are suited for wheat crop due to their clay loam and loam texture
content. Fluvisols also have high nutrient content from eroded sediments that travelled from one part
of soil to another by flood and is moderately suitable. Luvisols and leptosols are less fertility due to
calcium content and weak soil structure. So as to get suitable site these soil types reclassified in
accordance with suitability nature.

Figure 13: Reclassified soil type

3.5. Weighted overlay

To meet a specific objective, it is frequently the case that several criteria will need to be evaluated.
Such a procedure is called Multi-Criteria Evaluation (Carver, 1991). A "Weighted Suitability Model"
is developed using GIS techniques for proposing locations suitable for applying groundwater recharge
depending on a number of thematic layers and based on the principle of Multi-Criteria Evaluation.
Such models are used for applying a common measurement scale of values to diverse and dissimilar
inputs in order to create an integrated analysis. Additionally, the factors of the analysis may not be
equally important. Each individual raster cell is reclassified into units of suitability and multiplied by a
weight to assign relative importance to each and finally add them together for the final weight to
obtain a suitability value for every location on the map; this can be interpreted by (Eastman, 2001).
n
S=∑ (wixi)
i=1

Where,
WI= The weight of ith factor map
Xi= Criteria score of class of factor i
S = Suitability index for each pixel in the map

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 3.6. Straight Rank Sum Method
This method has been taken in consideration to find optimal site for wheat crop production. Under this
study, seven evaluation factors have been considered, soil type, soil Ph, rainfall, temperature,
elevation, slope and land use/land cover (Table). The factors are first ordered based on the
following table on top of their importance to the model objective. In this way, the factor rainfall,
soil type, soil Ph, temperature, elevation, slope and land use/land cover are ordered on the basis of
importance from most important to least important. Using straight rank sum method, each order is
summed and the total is 28. At the meantime, rank is equal to total order minus each order value
and the total rank is 168.The higher the rank the more the important the factor. Then after, the
% of influences are calculated by multiplying each rank value with hundred and divides it by the total
rank value and the total influences are equal to 100.
Table 3: Weighted Table

No. Factor Order Rank % influence Weight

1 Rain fall 1 28-1=27 27/168*100=16.07 16.07/100=0.1607

2 Soil type
3 Tempreture
4 Elevation
5 Slope
6 Soil Ph
7 Land use land cover
Total
2 28-2=26 26/168*100=15.47 15.47/100=0.1547
3 28-3=25 25/168*100=14.88 14.88/100=0.1488
4 28-4=24 24/168*100=14.28 14.28/100=0.1428
5 28-5=23 23/168*100=13.69 13.69/100=0.1369
6 28-6=22 22/168*100=13.75 13.75/100=0.1375
7 28-7=21 21/168*100=12.5 12.5/100=0.125
28 168 100 1

4. Results and Discussion

All the seven variables, namely soil type, rain fall, land use land cover, temperature, slope, elevation,
soil Ph which are used in model according to suitability criteria. Arcgis platforms is used to prepare
these rating after discussion making approach. The results of this study indicates that most part of the
study area is classified as moderately suitable and not suitable for wheat crop cultivation and scattered
in central and around the boarder part of the study area respectively. Whereas areas classified as less
suitable are scattered in western and highly suitable areas are in the south eastern part of the study area.
This result indicates that the results of multi criteria analysis showed that among the factors rain fall
(16.07) and land use land cover (12.5) had the highest and lowest weight respectively. Areas with
fertile soil, enough amount of rain fall, optimum tempreture, flat (gentle slope), cultivated land cover
and higher elevation are considered as suitable for wheat crop and areas with low tempreture, low rain
fall, low elevation and not fertile soil are categorized as not suitable. In addition areas that are covered
with forest, urban, shrub, wetland and water bodies are considered as not suitable for wheat crop
cultivation.

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Figure 14: suitability map

5. Conclusion
Land suitability analysis for agriculture is a key piece of information for improvements of agricultural
production and planning in the future. In this research I tried to identify factors that affect wheat crop
production in Shashemene zuria. The most influential factors for wheat crops are higher tempreture
from its optimal situation and low tempreture from its optimal situation, lower elevation, steppe slope
and low rain falls are the factors that affect wheat crop production in the study area.

6. Recommendation
Suitability analysis is not an easy task, particularly the problem I faced is that classifying land use land
cover based on their spectral signature. Due to their similar spectral signature most land covers are the
same pixel information and this leads to complicated task. In addition suitability analysis needs
accurate data so as to get better result and using inaccurate data leads to false decision. This study is
concentrated on a single crop that is not dominant in the study area. Applying the same study on other
crop is possible using multi criteria analysis. In general I would like to recommend that using accurate
data and fine resolution satellite image is well for better decision making.

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6. Reference

Ashraf S, Munokyan R, Normohammadan B, Babaei A (2010) Qualitative land suitability evaluation

for growth of wheat in northeast of Iran. Research Journal of Biological Sciences 5(8): 548-552.
Bahagat (2009) Land suitability analysis for cereal production in Himachal Pradash (India) using
Geographical Information System. Journal of Indian Society of Remote Sensing 37(2): 233-240.
B. Vargahan, F.Shahbazi, M.Hajrasouli (2011) Quantitative and Qualitative Land Suitability
Evaluation for Maize Cultivation in Ghobadlou Region. Ozean Journal of Applied Sciences,vol.
4,no. 1, Issn 1943-2429.
Cauvain, Stanley P (2003) Bread Making. CRC Press. p. 540.
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