Modeling the Land Suitability using GIS and AHP for Cotton Cultivation in Punjab, Pakistan

Modeling the Land for Cotton Cultivation

  • Haroon Rasheed Department of Electrical Engineering, Bahria University, Karachi Campus 13, National Stadium Road, Karachi-75260, Pakistan
  • Nabila Naz Department of Computer and Software Engineering, Bahria University, Karachi Campus 13, National Stadium Road, Karachi-75260, Pakistan
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52763/PJSIR.PHYS.SCI.59.2.2016.96.108
Keywords: cotton, multi criteria evaluation, analytic hierarchy process, land suitability, geographic information systems, pair-wise comparison matrix

Abstract

The main goal of this research was to establish a spatial model for identification of suitable land for cotton in Punjab, Pakistan through evaluation of multidisciplinary variables by applying geographic information system (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) approach. In this model, rivers were used as constraint and seven factors were temperature, soil physical and chemical properties, soil pH, aridity classes, agro-ecological zones, and river command area. On the basis of these parameters suitability maps were generated. By pair-wise comparison matrix (PWCM) of AHP, weights were extracted by means of principal Eigen vector by Saatys method, with accepted consistency ratio of 0.09. Multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) employing weighted linear combination aggregates all suitability maps to generate final suitability map. It was found that more potential sites exist along with existing cotton practiced area. The result provided important information for farmers to establish linkage between policy decisions and
regulatory actions and to improve agricultural land management. 

Published
2016-06-24
Issue
Vol 59 No 2 (2016): Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research Series A: Physical Sciences
Section
Articles