Assessment of Agricultural Land Suitability for Surface Irrigation Using Geospatial Techniques in the Lower Omo Gibe Basin, Ethiopia
Yonas Gebresilasie Hagos,
Tesfa Gebrie Andualem,
Mesenbet Yibeltal,
Demelash Ademe Malede,
Assefa M. Melesse,
Fitsum T. Teshome,
Haimanote K. Bayabil,
Endalkachew Abebe Kebede,
Ermias Alemu Demissie,
Addisalem Bitew Mitku,
Mequanent Abathun Mengie
Affiliations
Yonas Gebresilasie Hagos
Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation, Addis Ababa 2561, Ethiopia
Tesfa Gebrie Andualem
Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor 272, Ethiopia
Mesenbet Yibeltal
Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar 73, Ethiopia
Demelash Ademe Malede
Department of Hydrology and Water Resource Management at Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 1176, Ethiopia
Assefa M. Melesse
Department of Earth and Environment, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199, USA
Fitsum T. Teshome
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Tropical Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031, USA
Haimanote K. Bayabil
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Tropical Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031, USA
Endalkachew Abebe Kebede
Guna Tana Integrated Field Research and Development Center, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor 272, Ethiopia
Ermias Alemu Demissie
Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation, Addis Ababa 2561, Ethiopia
Addisalem Bitew Mitku
Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation, Addis Ababa 2561, Ethiopia
Mequanent Abathun Mengie
Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation, Addis Ababa 2561, Ethiopia
Land suitability assessment for irrigation is critical to inform as well as manage current and future irrigated agriculture production systems. Land suitability analysis determines whether a given land area could potentially be used for specific crop production. The objective of this study was to identify the availability of suitable land for surface irrigation systems for the production of millet, sorghum, sugarcane, and wheat production in the Lower Omo Gibe plain, Southern Ethiopia. Land suitability analysis was performed by a parametric method using factors such as soil texture, effective soil depth, Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3), soil electrical conductivity (ECe), drainage class, and slope. Five land suitability classes were identified that include highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), currently not suitable (N1), and permanently not suitable (N2). Results showed that 6.6, 7.5, 6.6, and 6.6% of the study area mostly located in the western part of the basin, were highly suitable (S1) for irrigated millets, sorghum, sugarcane, and wheat crops production, respectively. However, the mountainous areas in the central part of the basin were classified as N2 due to the steep slope and shallow soil depth. Overall, the results of the study revealed that the use of various suitability analysis techniques could assist in identifying suitable land for irrigated agriculture.
