MULTI-CRITERIA LAND SUITABILITY MAPPING FOR SOIL CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS USING THEMATIC MAPS AND WEIGHTAGE SCALE

This study highlights the importance of Soil Suitability map prepared by integrating the thirteen thematic maps. In this study an attempt was made to characterize the soils of the Bhadra command area starts from the reservoir located at Bhadravathi taluk for soil-suitability evaluation using geographic information system (GIS)-based multicriteria evaluation techniques. The study involves soil chemical characteristics particularly pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, Sulphur, Zinc, Boron, Iron, Manganese and copper. The study helps to understand the soil and soluble salts present in the soil to increase the soil fertility and to select suitable crops for cultivation. Soil is classified by assigning the rank/ weights; highest weight represents the high percentage of chemical content. Thematic maps were prepared through capability values (CV) and Weighted capability values(WCV). Based on the values obtained, soil can be classified from very good to poor category. This will helps to suggest the feasibility of the crop. From the study, crop suitability for particular distributaries is highlighted.