Evaluation of land suitability for Moringa oleifera tree cultivation by using Geospatial technology: The case of Dhidhessa Catchment, Abay Basin, Ethiopia

Mitiku Badasa Moisa; Muleta Ebissa Feyissa; Indale Niguse Dejene; Firdissa Sadeta Tiye; Kiros Tsegay Deribew; Zenebe Reta Roba; Mengistu Muleta Gurmessa; Dessalegn Obsi Gemeda

Oil Crop Science (Mar 2023)

Evaluation of land suitability for Moringa oleifera tree cultivation by using Geospatial technology: The case of Dhidhessa Catchment, Abay Basin, Ethiopia

Mitiku Badasa Moisa,
Muleta Ebissa Feyissa,
Indale Niguse Dejene,
Firdissa Sadeta Tiye,
Kiros Tsegay Deribew,
Zenebe Reta Roba,
Mengistu Muleta Gurmessa,
Dessalegn Obsi Gemeda

Affiliations

Mitiku Badasa Moisa: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Wollega University Shambu Campus, Ethiopia; Corresponding author.
Muleta Ebissa Feyissa: Department of Earth Sciences, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Wollega University Nekemte Campus, Nekemte, Ethiopia
Indale Niguse Dejene: Department of Earth Sciences, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Wollega University Nekemte Campus, Nekemte, Ethiopia
Firdissa Sadeta Tiye: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wollega University, Gimbi Campus, Gimbi, Ethiopia
Kiros Tsegay Deribew: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Raya University, Maichew, Ethiopia
Zenebe Reta Roba: Department of Forestry, College of Natural Resource and Agricultural Economics, Mettu University Bedele Campus, Ethiopia
Mengistu Muleta Gurmessa: Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Wollega University Shambu Campus, Shambu, Ethiopia
Dessalegn Obsi Gemeda: Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Ethiopia

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 45 – 55

Abstract

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Land suitability analysis of Moringa oleifera tree cultivation is important to enhance its product, as the demand for this tree for medicinal values and food sources is increasing worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to assess suitable land for Moringa oleifera tree cultivation by using the integration of multi-criteria evaluation with geospatial technologies in the Dhidhessa catchment, western Ethiopia. Five parameters, namely: slope, land use and land cover (LULC), soil texture, land surface temperature, and rainfall data, were used in this study. The land suitability evaluation of Moringa oleifera is classified into three classes as highly suitable, moderately suitable, and not suitable. The results revealed that, about 344.4 km2 (12.2%) of the area is categorized into highly suitable, and 2343.7 km2 (83%) is moderately suitable for Moringa tree, whereas, 137.2 km2 (4.9%) is categorized as not suitable for Moringa oleifera tree cultivation. Hence, based on the finding of the study, we suggested that farmers and other stakeholders can cultivate Moringa oleifera trees in the Dhidhessa catchment.

Published in Oil Crop Science

ISSN: 2096-2428 (Print); 2666-626X (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Genetics
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/oil-crop-science/

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