Authors: Bhuvanesh G, Arun Das, Shivanand Chinnappanavar, Ravikumar M
Abstract: This study aimed to assess suitable lands for agricultural purposes in the Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar district. Leveraging the widely used Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS), this research conducted a thorough land use suitability analysis. Key parameters including geomorphological and geological features, relief, slope, drainage density, rainfall, soil texture, and land use and land cover were considered in the analysis. Weights were assigned to these parameters based on their significance and importance, resulting in the generation of an agricultural land suitability map divided into three categories. Upon excluding forested and reservoir areas from the reclassified suitability map, the study estimated that 19.59% of the study area (266 sq. km) is highly suitable for agricultural production, 67.6% (918 sq. km) is moderately suitable, and 12.81% (174 sq. km) is unsuitable for agricultural production in this region. This framework facilitates the early zoning of agricultural land for protection, ensuring sustainable land use development in the future.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20783644
