Land Suitability Analysis as a Tool for Evaluating Soil-Improving Cropping Systems

Agricultural land use planning is based on the capacity of soil to support different types crops and a prerequisite for better cultivated land. Land Suitability Analysis (LSA) used measure level suitability growing specific crop in area can also be evaluate future scenarios as means sustainable agriculture. LSA was employed calculate current suitability, well four Soil-Improving Cropping Systems (SICS): (a) Conservation Tillage (CT), (b) Cover Crop (CC), (c) Residue Management (CRM), (d) Manure Application (MA). The SICS were derived by increasing organic matter cation exchange values depending hypothetically applied period 100 years future. evaluated maize three sites: Flanders (BE), Somogy (HU), Hengshui (CH). performed using Use Evaluation System (ALUES) considering climatic topographic parameters. Weighing factors input parameters assigned Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). results show that Flanders, highly suitable (S2) class covered 3.3% total area, best scenario improving LS CRM, which S2 expanded 9.1%. In Somogy, 18.3% CT CC, both 70.5% area. Hengshui, 64.7% all extremely well, converting almost moderately (S3) areas S2. main limiting factor recognized from analysis cases conditions. This work proves management practices recognize factors. proposed methodology novel approach provide maps efficiently projecting characteristics future, thus facilitating decisions regional policy makers.