Land suitability evaluation of Babahoyo-Ecuador, under the current land utilization types under rainfed agriculture
Keywords:
spatial distribution, land physical evaluation, utilization types, suitability class, geopedologyAbstract
In order to select the best uses for each unit of land, using the FAO guidelines for rainfed agriculture, 1076 which constitute the Canton Babahoyo, province of Los Rios, Ecuador were evaluated. For that, we used the geopedological studies, use-coverage and production systems of the canton at 1:25.000 scale, where 80 soil units, and 8 representative types of land utilization types (TUT) were identified. Three of the identified TUT were selected with the following products: rice, bananas and oil palm. Available water, available oxygen, nutrient availability, rooting conditions, conditions affecting germination, excess salts, soil toxicity, ability of tillage, mechanization possibilities and soil loss were selected as relevant land qualities in an environment of geographic information systems (GIS). The physical evaluation of land units was carried out using a multi-criteria valuation as A1 (highly suitable), A2 (moderately suitable), A3 (marginally suitable) and N (not suitable). The main results of the assessment indicate that the TUT with rice was A1 in 5150.89 ha, for bananas was A1 in 1681.04 and for oil palm in 6052.96 ha. As A2 49855.92 ha were identified for rice and for oil palm 67356.78 ha., while for bananas were 9245.13 ha, which indicates that the Canton Babahoyo has extensive areas suitable for oil palm cultivation (73500 ha), for rice (55.000 ha) followed by bananas (11.000 ha). These results can be visualized through maps that intend to be an appropriate instrument for decision makers in different areas such as: the agro-ecological management, specific programs for productive development in specific areas according to the identified potential and suitability, and thus generate better opportunities to farm sector.
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References
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