Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

Evaluation of Land Suitability for Crop Production in Northern Ghana Using GIS and AHP Based Techniques

Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 4, 46 - 56, 25.12.2022
https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.1022275

Abstract

In this study, a land suitability index for crop production in three northern regions of Ghana is spatially generated using a land suitability analysis through the integration of AHP and GIS. The study further exploited actual maize and groundnut yield obtained by farmers in the study area by integrating it with the land suitability index to spatially generate potential maize and ground yield. The actual and potential maize and groundnut yields were overlayed in GIS to produce potential yield losses for maize and groundnuts. Factors of precipitation, slope of land, LULC, soil erosion, OM and the soil type were identified through expert opinion in literature, and assigned weights through AHP for the land suitability analysis. Results obtained from the land suitability index indicates about 19.2 % of land in the three regions is highly suitable for crop production, about 20.8 % is moderately suitable, about 27.0 % is less suitable and about 33 % unsuitable due to settlements and depleted lands. Potential yield loss due to difference in actual and potential maize and groundnuts yields were 70 % and 63 % for maize and groundnuts respectively for the Northern Region, 83 % and 66 % for maize and groundnuts respectively for the North-East Region, and then 66 % and 59 % for maize and groundnuts respectively for the Savannah Region. The AHP and GIS-based land suitability analysis techniques are potentials and effective tools for determining the suitability of land for crop production thereby enhancing sustainable agricultural development through enhancing food security and creation of new jobs.

References

  • Bozdağ, A., Yavuz, F. and Günay, A.S. (2016). AHP and GIS based land suitability analysis for Cihanbeyli (Turkey) County. Environ. Earth Sci., 75(9). doi: 10.1007/s12665-016-5558-9.
  • Ceballos-Silva, A. and Ľopez-Blanco, J. (2003). Delineation of suitable areas for crops using a Multi Criteria Evaluation approach and land use/cover mapping: a case study in Central Mexico. Agric. Syst., 77: 117–36.
  • Chakraborty, S. and Banik, D. (2006). Design of a material handling equipment selection model using analytic hierarchy process. Int J Adv Manuf Technol, 28: 1237 – 1245.
  • Chang, N., Parvathinathan, G. and Jeff, B.B. (2007): Combining GIS with fuzzy multi criteria decision-making for landfill siting in a fast-growing urban region. J. Environ. Manage., 87: 139–153.
  • Chen, Y. Yu, J. Khan, S. (2010). Spatial sensitivity analysis of multi-criteria weights in GIS-based land suitability evaluation. Environ Model Softw, 25(12): 1582 – 1591.
  • Cinelli, M., Coles, S.R. and Kirwan, K. (2014). Analysis of the potentials of multi criteria decision analysis methods to conduct sustainability assessment. Ecol., 46: 138-148.
  • Feizizadehab, B. and Blaschkeb, T. (2013). Land suitability analysis for Tabriz County, Iran: a multi-criteria evaluation approach using GIS. J. Environ. Plan. Manag., 56(1): 1–23.
  • Schmoldt, D.L., Kangas, J., Mendoza, G.A. and Pesonen, M. (eds). Fundamentals of the analytic hierarchy process. In: The analytic hierarchy process in natural resource and environmental decision making. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands, pp 15–35. ISBN 0-7923-7076-7.
  • Ghana Meteorological Service, (2012). Ghana Meteorological Service, Ghana.
  • Hansen, H.S. (2005). GIS-based multi-criteria analysis of wind farm development. In: Proc. 10th Scandinavian Research Conf. Geographical Information Science. Stock- holm, Royal Institute of Technology: 75–87.
  • Jafari, H. and Onagh, A. (2005). Zoning the protected area of Geno in GIS, J. Environ. Stud., 38: 39-46.
  • Kombiok, J.M., Buah S.S.J., Dzomeku I.K. and Abdulai, H. (2012). Sources of pod yield losses in groundnut in the northern savanna zone of Ghana. West Afr. J. Appl. Ecol., 20(2): 53-63.
  • Kumar, N., Singh, S.K., Mishra, V.N., Obi Reddy, G.P., Bajpai, R.K. and Saxena, R.R. (2018). Soil suitability evaluation for cotton using analytical hierarchic process. Int. J. Chem. Stud., 6(4): 1570-1576.
  • Maddahi, Z., Jalalian, A., Kheirkhah Zarkesh, M.M. And Honarjo, N. (2017). Land Suitability Analysis for Rice Cultivation Using a GIS-based Fuzzy Multi-criteria Decision-Making Approach: Central Part of Amol District, Iran. Soil & Water Res. 12(1): 29–38. doi: 10.17221/1/2016-SWR.
  • Mahfoozi, M., Darvishsefat, A. and Makhdoom, F. (2001). Watershed land use planning of Dadghan- Tafresh with Geographic information system. J. Environ. Stud., 27: 99-108.
  • Makhdoum, M.F. (2000). Fundamental of land use the planning. Tehran University publication, 8th edition.
  • Malczewski, J. (2004). GIS-based land-use suitability analysis: a critical overview. Prog Plan, 62(1): 3–65.
  • Malczewski, J. (2006). GIS based multi criteria decision analysis: a survey of the literature. Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Syst., 20: 703-726.
  • Mann, H.S., Malhotra, S.P. and Shankarnarayan, K.A. (1977). Land and resource utilisation in the arid zone. Desertif. Control, 89-101.
  • Mueller, L., Schindler, U., Mirschel, W., Shepherd, T.G., Ball, B.C., Helming, K., Rogasik, J., Eulenstein, F. and Wiggering, H. (2010). Assessing the productivity function of soils. A review. Agron Sustain Dev, 30: 601-614.
  • Parry, J.A., Ganaie, S.A. and Sultan-Bhat, M. (2018). GIS based land suitability analysis using AHP model for urban services planning in Srinagar and Jammu urban centres of J and K, India. J. Urban Manag. Elsevier B.V., 7(2): 46–56. doi: 10.1016/j.jum.2018.05.002.
  • Pourkhabbaz, H.R., Javanmardi, S., Faraji Sabokbar, H.A. (2014). Suitability analysis for determining potential agricultural land use by the multi-criteria decision-making models SAW and VIKOR-AHP (Case study: Takestan- Qazvin Plain). J. Agric. Sci. Technol., 16: 1005–1016.
  • Rabia, H.A. and Terribile, F. (2013). Introducing a new parametric concept for land suitability assessment. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Dev., 4(1): 15-19.
  • Rezaei-Moghaddam, K. and Karami, E. (2008). A multiple criteria evaluation of sustainable agricultural development models using AHP. Environ Dev Sustain, 10(4): 407-426.
  • Saaty, T.L. (1980). The analytical hierarchy process. McGraw Hill, New York.
  • Saaty, T.L. (1977). A scaling method for priorities in hierarchical structures. J. Math. Psychol., 15: 234 - 281.
  • Ullah, K.M. and Mansourian, A. (2015). Evaluation of land suitability for urban land-use planning: case study Dhaka City. Trans GIS. doi:10.1111/tgis.12137.
  • Van Ranst, E., Tang, H., Groenemans, R. and Sinthurahat, S. (1996). Application of fuzzy logic to land suitability for rubber production in peninsular Thailand. Geoderma., 70: 1-19.
  • Vargahan, B., Shahbazi, F. and Hajrasouli, M. (2011). Quantitative and qualitative land suitability evaluation for maize cultivation in ghobadlou region, Iran. Asian J. Appl. Sci., 4(1): 91-104.
  • Willmott, C.J. (1981). On the validation of models. Phys. Geogr., 2: 184 - 194.
  • Ying, X., Guang-Ming, Z., Gui-Qiua, C., Lin, T., Ke-Linc, W. and Dao-Youc, H. (2007). Combining AHP with GIS in synthetic evaluation of eco-environment quality-A case study of Hunan Province, China. Ecol Modell., 209: 97-109.
Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 4, 46 - 56, 25.12.2022
https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.1022275

Abstract

References

  • Bozdağ, A., Yavuz, F. and Günay, A.S. (2016). AHP and GIS based land suitability analysis for Cihanbeyli (Turkey) County. Environ. Earth Sci., 75(9). doi: 10.1007/s12665-016-5558-9.
  • Ceballos-Silva, A. and Ľopez-Blanco, J. (2003). Delineation of suitable areas for crops using a Multi Criteria Evaluation approach and land use/cover mapping: a case study in Central Mexico. Agric. Syst., 77: 117–36.
  • Chakraborty, S. and Banik, D. (2006). Design of a material handling equipment selection model using analytic hierarchy process. Int J Adv Manuf Technol, 28: 1237 – 1245.
  • Chang, N., Parvathinathan, G. and Jeff, B.B. (2007): Combining GIS with fuzzy multi criteria decision-making for landfill siting in a fast-growing urban region. J. Environ. Manage., 87: 139–153.
  • Chen, Y. Yu, J. Khan, S. (2010). Spatial sensitivity analysis of multi-criteria weights in GIS-based land suitability evaluation. Environ Model Softw, 25(12): 1582 – 1591.
  • Cinelli, M., Coles, S.R. and Kirwan, K. (2014). Analysis of the potentials of multi criteria decision analysis methods to conduct sustainability assessment. Ecol., 46: 138-148.
  • Feizizadehab, B. and Blaschkeb, T. (2013). Land suitability analysis for Tabriz County, Iran: a multi-criteria evaluation approach using GIS. J. Environ. Plan. Manag., 56(1): 1–23.
  • Schmoldt, D.L., Kangas, J., Mendoza, G.A. and Pesonen, M. (eds). Fundamentals of the analytic hierarchy process. In: The analytic hierarchy process in natural resource and environmental decision making. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands, pp 15–35. ISBN 0-7923-7076-7.
  • Ghana Meteorological Service, (2012). Ghana Meteorological Service, Ghana.
  • Hansen, H.S. (2005). GIS-based multi-criteria analysis of wind farm development. In: Proc. 10th Scandinavian Research Conf. Geographical Information Science. Stock- holm, Royal Institute of Technology: 75–87.
  • Jafari, H. and Onagh, A. (2005). Zoning the protected area of Geno in GIS, J. Environ. Stud., 38: 39-46.
  • Kombiok, J.M., Buah S.S.J., Dzomeku I.K. and Abdulai, H. (2012). Sources of pod yield losses in groundnut in the northern savanna zone of Ghana. West Afr. J. Appl. Ecol., 20(2): 53-63.
  • Kumar, N., Singh, S.K., Mishra, V.N., Obi Reddy, G.P., Bajpai, R.K. and Saxena, R.R. (2018). Soil suitability evaluation for cotton using analytical hierarchic process. Int. J. Chem. Stud., 6(4): 1570-1576.
  • Maddahi, Z., Jalalian, A., Kheirkhah Zarkesh, M.M. And Honarjo, N. (2017). Land Suitability Analysis for Rice Cultivation Using a GIS-based Fuzzy Multi-criteria Decision-Making Approach: Central Part of Amol District, Iran. Soil & Water Res. 12(1): 29–38. doi: 10.17221/1/2016-SWR.
  • Mahfoozi, M., Darvishsefat, A. and Makhdoom, F. (2001). Watershed land use planning of Dadghan- Tafresh with Geographic information system. J. Environ. Stud., 27: 99-108.
  • Makhdoum, M.F. (2000). Fundamental of land use the planning. Tehran University publication, 8th edition.
  • Malczewski, J. (2004). GIS-based land-use suitability analysis: a critical overview. Prog Plan, 62(1): 3–65.
  • Malczewski, J. (2006). GIS based multi criteria decision analysis: a survey of the literature. Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Syst., 20: 703-726.
  • Mann, H.S., Malhotra, S.P. and Shankarnarayan, K.A. (1977). Land and resource utilisation in the arid zone. Desertif. Control, 89-101.
  • Mueller, L., Schindler, U., Mirschel, W., Shepherd, T.G., Ball, B.C., Helming, K., Rogasik, J., Eulenstein, F. and Wiggering, H. (2010). Assessing the productivity function of soils. A review. Agron Sustain Dev, 30: 601-614.
  • Parry, J.A., Ganaie, S.A. and Sultan-Bhat, M. (2018). GIS based land suitability analysis using AHP model for urban services planning in Srinagar and Jammu urban centres of J and K, India. J. Urban Manag. Elsevier B.V., 7(2): 46–56. doi: 10.1016/j.jum.2018.05.002.
  • Pourkhabbaz, H.R., Javanmardi, S., Faraji Sabokbar, H.A. (2014). Suitability analysis for determining potential agricultural land use by the multi-criteria decision-making models SAW and VIKOR-AHP (Case study: Takestan- Qazvin Plain). J. Agric. Sci. Technol., 16: 1005–1016.
  • Rabia, H.A. and Terribile, F. (2013). Introducing a new parametric concept for land suitability assessment. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Dev., 4(1): 15-19.
  • Rezaei-Moghaddam, K. and Karami, E. (2008). A multiple criteria evaluation of sustainable agricultural development models using AHP. Environ Dev Sustain, 10(4): 407-426.
  • Saaty, T.L. (1980). The analytical hierarchy process. McGraw Hill, New York.
  • Saaty, T.L. (1977). A scaling method for priorities in hierarchical structures. J. Math. Psychol., 15: 234 - 281.
  • Ullah, K.M. and Mansourian, A. (2015). Evaluation of land suitability for urban land-use planning: case study Dhaka City. Trans GIS. doi:10.1111/tgis.12137.
  • Van Ranst, E., Tang, H., Groenemans, R. and Sinthurahat, S. (1996). Application of fuzzy logic to land suitability for rubber production in peninsular Thailand. Geoderma., 70: 1-19.
  • Vargahan, B., Shahbazi, F. and Hajrasouli, M. (2011). Quantitative and qualitative land suitability evaluation for maize cultivation in ghobadlou region, Iran. Asian J. Appl. Sci., 4(1): 91-104.
  • Willmott, C.J. (1981). On the validation of models. Phys. Geogr., 2: 184 - 194.
  • Ying, X., Guang-Ming, Z., Gui-Qiua, C., Lin, T., Ke-Linc, W. and Dao-Youc, H. (2007). Combining AHP with GIS in synthetic evaluation of eco-environment quality-A case study of Hunan Province, China. Ecol Modell., 209: 97-109.
There are 31 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Eliasu Salifu 0000-0002-7377-3317

Wilson Agyei Agyare This is me 0000-0002-4028-7961

Shaibu Abdul-ganiyu This is me 0000-0001-6431-8083

Publication Date December 25, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 9 Issue: 4

Cite

APA Salifu, E., Agyei Agyare, W., & Abdul-ganiyu, S. (2022). Evaluation of Land Suitability for Crop Production in Northern Ghana Using GIS and AHP Based Techniques. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics, 9(4), 46-56. https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.1022275