APPLICATION OF AHP METHOD AND GIS TO EVALUATE THE SUITABILITY OF SOME SOIL CHARACTERISTICS FOR RAMIE PLANT IN NGOC LAC DISTRICT, THANH HOA PROVINCE

Abstract

The aim of this study is to out appropriate cultivated areas for ramie tree production in Ngoc Lac district. Hence, the evaluation of land suitability for this plant is crucial for land-users and land managers to realize the capacity and limitations of the current land conditions for making suitable policies and strategies of land use in the future. In this study, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information system (GIS) were applied to evaluate land suitability for this plant. The results showed that 0,57%, 23,43%, 31,19%, 13,15%, and 6,76% of the natural areas were classified as high, moderate, marginal, current, and permanently unsuitable levels, respectively for ramie tree. It was indicated that the most important limitation parameters in the growth of ramie tree were found to be the soil depth, soil texture, and soil fertility. The results of the research also suggested that the combination of GIS and AHP method can be implemented in other places for different plants with the appropriate factors used for land suitability evaluation according to particular area conditions.