Evaluation of Land Capability for Agriculture Using Geo-Spatial Technologies in the Upper Dhidhessaa Watershed, Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

Abstract

Land is a limited resource characterized by complex competitions over its use. Landcapability evaluation is an important tool for identifying the capability of land for agriculturaland other uses. This study, therefore, aimed at evaluating land capability for agriculture in theUpper Dhidhessaa watershed of the Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia. The main sources of data ofthe study were secondary data obtained from Ministries and Agencies of the FederalGovernment of Ethiopia. Multi criteria evaluation technique was used to identify the land usecapability classes and subclasses in the watershed. Data on land characteristics were weightedbased on specific agricultural land classes using Storie Index rating. The principal limitingparameters such as texture, drainage, slope and stoniness were identified. These factors wereused with the consideration that their effect on land is relatively permanent. Land usecapability classification was carried out by matching the land characteristics and thus, five LUclasses represent the watershed and GIS platform was used to produce land capability mapsfor both classes and units. Almost all or 99.9 percent of the watershed lies within capabilityclass 1 to 4. This indicates that the study watershed is suitable for arable cropping, pastoralgrazing or forestry. Specifically, 42.6 % of the watershed is categorized as class 1 land (i.e.,excellent capability with none to least limitations). The study concludes that the land usecapability classification provides information about both the degree of limitation and kind ofproblems involved for broad planning and conservation studies