Multi-Criteria Land Suitability Analysis for Plantation in Upper Mula and Pravara Basin: Remote Sensing and GIS Approach

Assessment of land suitability potentials is an important step to detect the environmental limit for sustainable land management (SLM). Land suitability analysis (LSA) is more suitable, beneficial and environmentally acceptable for SLM. It deals with the assessment of land performances for the specific use like agriculture, plantation, etc. The main objective of the present study was to determine the suitable areas for plantation in the Upper Mula and Pravara Basin. GIS based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to analyze land suitability for plantation. Criterion like slope, LULC, depth, texture, moisture, SOC, MWHC, pH, EC and primary nutrients were used. Pairwise comparison matrix was used for calculation of weights for criterion and scores were assigned to sub-criterion using field work, experts’ opinions and literature review. Weighted overlay analysis was used for final output raster map. Then cell values of raster map were divided into four classes i.e. 9, 7, 4 and 1. Finally, these classes have reclassified into four suitability levels according to FAO. About 5% of reviewed land is highly suitable, 23% moderately suitable, 14% marginally suitable and 58% not suitable for plantation in the region.