Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

GIS- and AHP-based land suitability analysis of Malus domestica Borkh. (apple) in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Applied Geomatics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Crops grow best in locations where conditions meet their growth requirements like elevation, slope, aspect, soil, land cover, and many other climatic factors. So, a land suitability analysis (LSA) of Malus domestica in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India, was attempted using an integrated approach of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Weighted Overlay Analysis (WOA), and Geographic Information System (GIS). Based on literature survey and farmer’s opinion, the elevation, slope, aspect, annual temperature, rainfall, soil type, soil drainage, and land use/land cover (LULC) criteria were considered important for M. domestica cultivation in the area. AHP method was applied to score the criteria using available literature and interview with the local experts. Elevation scored the highest weight of 0.321 followed by temperature with 0.243. The weights of other criteria in parenthesis are slope and LULC 0.13 each, aspect and rainfall 0.060 each, and soil type and soil drainage 0.028 each. The results showed that 8.12% (392.98 km2) of the study area is highly suitable for M. domestica cultivation while 20.59% (996.08 km2) is not suitable. Rest of the area constituting 71.28% (3448.35 km2) was found moderately or marginally suitable. However, the study reveals that the current suitable areas are mostly underutilized. Thus, greater efforts to increase the area under crop might ensure higher productivity in the future. The methods and techniques used in this study can be efficiently replicated to assess the land suitability of other important horticultural and agricultural crops.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The authors ensure the availability of data and material as and when asked for.

References

  • AAFC (2011) Crop profile for apple in Canada, 2009. Pesticide Risk Reduction Program, Pest Management Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Ottawa, p. 66.

  • Anderson LT (1987) Seven methods for calculating land capability/suitability. A report of American Planning Association, Planning Advisory Service, Chicago, Illinois.

  • Bhagat RM, Sharda S, Sood C, Rana RS, Kaila K, Pradhan S, Immerzeel W, Shrestha B (2009) Land Suitability Analysis for cereal production in Himachal Pradesh (India) using Geographic Information System. J Ind Soc Remote Sens 37(2):233–240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-009-0018-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boonyanuphap J, Wattanachaiyingcharoen D, Sakurai K (2004) GIS-based land suitability assessment for Musa (ABB group) plantation. J Appl Hortic 6(1):3–10. https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2004.v06i01.01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ceballos-silva A, Lopez-Blanco J (2003) Delineation of suitable areas for crops using a Multi-Criteria Evaluation approach and land use/land cover mapping: a case study in Central Mexico. Agric Syst 77:117–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-521X(02)00103-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cengiz T, Akbulak C (2009) Application of Analytical Hierarchy Process and Geographic Information Systems in land-use suitability evaluation: a case study of Dümrek village (Çanakkale, Turkey). Int J Sust Dev World Ecol 16(4):286–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504500903106634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chada KL (2009) Handbook of horticulture, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), New Delhi, India.

  • Chakraborty S, Banik D (2006) Design of a material handling equipment selection model using analytic hierarchy process. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 28(11):1237–1245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-004-2467-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chattopadhyay TK (2009) A textbook on pomology (temperate fruits), Vol. IV. Kalyani Publishers, India.

  • Chen Y, Khan S, Paydar Z (2010) To retire or expand? A fuzzy GIS-based spatial multi-criteria evaluation framework for irrigated agriculture. Irrig Drain 59(2):174–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devkota LN (1999) Deciduous fruit production in Nepal. In: Papademetriou MK, Herath EM (ed) Deciduous fruit production in Asia and the Pacific. RAP Publication: 1999/10. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, pp 63-78.

  • Diamond JT, Wright J (1988) Design of an integrated spatial information system for multiobjective land use planning. Environ Plann B Plann Des 15:205–214. https://doi.org/10.1068/b150205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • District Horticulture Office (2020). Horticulture. West Kameng, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Available via NIC. https://westkameng.nic.in/horticulture. Accessed 12 November 2020.

  • FAO (1976) A framework for land evaluation, Soils Bulletin No. 32. Rome: UNO-FAO. Available via FAO. http://www.fao.org/3/X5310E/x5310e00.htm. Accessed 1 December 2020.

  • FAO (1985) Guidelines: land evaluation for irrigated agriculture, Soil Bulletin No. 55. Rome: UNO-FAO. Available via FAO. http://www.fao.org/3/X5648E/x5648e00.htm. Accessed 5 August 2020.

  • FAO (2013) FAOSTAT. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division. Available via FAO. http://www.fao.org/corp/statistics/en/. Accessed 5 August 2020.

  • Finnigan BF, Colt WM, Fallahi E (2000) Growing apples for local markets in cold climates. University of Idaho, Cooperative Extension System, Idaho. Moscow, p. 20.

  • Fischer G, van Velthuizen H, Shah M, Nachtergaele F (2001) Global Agro-ecological Assessment for Agriculture in the 21st Century. Laxenburg, Austria.

  • Ghosh SP (1999) Deciduous fruit production in India. In: Papademetriou MK, Herath EM (ed) Deciduous fruit production in Asia and the Pacific. RAP Publication: 1999/10. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, pp 38-56.

  • Girvan MS, Bullimore J, Pretty JN, Osborn AM, Ball AS (2003) Soil type is the primary determinant of the composition of the total and active bacterial communities in arable soils. Appl Environ Microbiol 69:1800–1809. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.69.3.1800-1809.2003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall M, Hall CAS, Taylor M (2000) Geographical Modelling – the synthesis of a GIS and simulation modelling. In: Hall CAS (ed) Quantifying Sustainable Development. Academic Press, Sandiago, pp 177–202

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hancock JF, Luby JJ, Brown SK, Lobos GA (2008) Apples. In: Hancock JF (ed) Temperate fruit crop breeding: germplasm to genomics. Springer Science + Business Media B.V, New York, pp 1–37

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Harris SA, Robinson JP, Juniper BE (2002) Genetic clues to the origin of the apple. Trends Genet 18(8):426–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9525(02)02689-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartati S, Stitanggang IS (2010) A fuzzy based decision supports system for evaluating land suitability and selecting crops. J Comput Sci 6(4):417–424. https://doi.org/10.3844/jcssp.2010.417.424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins LD (1977) Methods of generating land suitability maps: a comparative evaluation. J Am Inst Plan 43(4):386–400. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944367708977903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Indian Horticulture Database (2013) Chapter – II Commodity-wise status: fruit crops: Apple. National Horticulture Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Available via NHB. http://nhb.gov.in/area-pro/Indian%20Horticulture%202013.pdf. Accessed 5 August 2020.

  • Keshavarzi A, Sarmadian F, Heidari A, Omid M (2010) Land suitability evaluation using Fuzzy Continuous Classification (a case study: Ziaran Region). Mod Appl Sci 4(7):72–81. https://doi.org/10.5539/mas.v4n7p72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kilic S, Evrendilek F, Berberoglu S, Demirkesen AC (2006) Environmental monitoring of land-use and land-cover changes in a Mediterranean region of Turkey. Environ Monit Assess 114:157–168. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-2525-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luby JJ (2003) Taxonomic classification and brief history. In: Ferree DC, Warrington IJ (ed) Apples: botany, production and uses. CABI International, Cambridge, pp 1–14

  • Mabberley DJ, Jarvis CE, Juniper BE (2001) The name of the apple. Telopea 9(2):421–430. https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea20013014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madrigal-Martínez S, Puga-Calderón RJ (2018) Land suitability and sensitivity analysis for planning apple growing in Mala’s valley. Peru. Bioagro 30(2):95–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Malczewski J (2006) GIS-based multi-criteria analysis: a survey of the literature. Int J Geogr Inf Sci 20:703–706. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658810600661508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malczewski J (1999) GIS and multicriteria decision analysis. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York

  • Manandhar S, Pandey VP, Kazama F (2014) Assessing suitability of apple cultivation under climate change in mountainous regions of Western Nepal. Reg Environ Change 14:743–756. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-013-0531-6

  • Martin D, Saha SK (2009) Land evaluation by integrating remote sensing and GIS for cropping system analysis in a watershed. Curr Sci 96(4):569–575

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller W, Collins W, Steiner FR, Cook E (1998) An approach for greenway suitability analysis. Landsc Urban Plan 42(2-4):91–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-2046(98)00080-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Horticulture Board (2020) Report files on Apple. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi. Available via NHB. http://nhb.gov.in/report_files/apple/APPLE.htm. Accessed 8 November 2020.

  • Nimasow G, Chozom K, Nimasow OD, Tsering P (2014) Sustainable development of Horticulture in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh (India): a debate on food security and climate change. Herald J Geogr Rgnl Plann 3(4):131–139

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Rourke D (2003) World production, trade consumption and economic outlook for apples. In: Ferree DC, Warrington IJ (ed) Apples: botany, production and uses. CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, UK, pp 15-29.

  • Park S, Jeon S, Kim S, Choi C (2011) Prediction and comparison of urban growth by land suitability index mapping using GIS and RS in South Korea. Landsc Urban Plan 99:104–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.09.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira JM, Duckstein L (1993) A multiple criteria decision-making approach to GIS-based land suitability analysis. Int J Geogr Inf Syst 7(5):407–424. https://doi.org/10.1080/02693799308901971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pirbalouti AG, Golparvar A (2008) Evaluating agro-climatologically variables to identify suitable areas for rapeseed in different dates of sowing by GIS approach. Am J Agric Biol Sci 3(4):656–660. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2008.656.660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pramanik MK (2016) Site suitability analysis for agricultural land use of Darjeeling district using AHP and GIS techniques. Model Earth Syst Environ 2:56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-016-0116-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qian G-Z, Liu L-F, Tang G-G (2010) Proposal to conserve the name Malus domestica against M. pumila, M. communis, M. frutescens, and Pyrus dioica (Rosaceae). Taxon 59(2):650–652 https://www.jstor.org/stable/25677631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rezaei-Moghaddam K, Karami E (2008) A multiple criteria evaluation of sustainable agriculture development models using AHP. Environ Dev Sustain 10:407–426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-006-9072-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rieger M (2006) Introduction to fruit crops. Food Products Press, Binghamton

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Roig-Tierno N, Bavierta-Puig A, Buitrago-Vera J, Mas-Verdu F (2013) The retail site location decision process using GIS and the Analytical Hierarchy Process. Appl Geogr 40:191–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2013.03.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roots of Peace (2008) Apple production, perennial crop support series Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Publication No. 2008-004-AFG. Available via USAIDAFGHANISTAN. https://afghanag.ucdavis.edu/fruits-nuts-vegetables/Fruits/files/apples/Man_Fruit_Apple_Prod.pdf. (Accessed 12 June 2020).

  • Saaty TL (1980) The Analytical Hierarchy Process. McGraw Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Saaty TL (2012) Decision making for leaders: the Analytic Hierarchy Process for decisions in a complex world. Third Revised Edition. RWS Publications, Pittsburgh.

  • Sharma N, Sharma S, Verma S, Sharma C (2013) Impact of changing climate on apple production in Kotkhai area of Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh. Int J Farm Sci 3(1):80–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Solymar B (2004) Crop profile for apple in Canada. Pest Management Centre, Pesticide Risk Reduction Program, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON.

  • Taddese H (2014) Suitability analysis for Jatropha curcas production in Ethiopia - a spatial modeling approach. Environ Syst Res 3:25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-014-0025-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari DN, Loof R, Paudyal GN (1999) Environmental-economic decision-making in lowland irrigated agriculture using multi-criteria analysis techniques. Agric Syst 60(2):99–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-521X(99)00021-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uphoff N, (2002) Agro-ecological innovations: increasing food production with participatory development. Earthscan Publications Ltd., London.

  • Velasco R, Zharkikh A, Affourtit J, Dhingra A, Cestaro A, Kalyanaraman A, Fontana P, Bhatnagar SK, Troggio M, Pruss D, Salvi S, Pindo M, Baldi P, Castelletti S, Cavaiuolo M, Coppola G, Costa F, Cova V, Dal Ri A, Goremykin V, Komjanc M, Longhi S, Magnago P, Malacarne G, Malnoy M, Micheletti D, Moretto M, Perazzolli M, Si-Ammour A, Vezzulli S, Zini E, Eldredge G, Fitzgerald LM, Gutin N, Lanchbury J, Macalma T, Mitchell JT, Reid J, Wardell B, Kodira C, Chen Z, Desany B, Niazi F, Palmer M, Koepke T, Jiwan D, Schaeffer S, Krishnan V, Wu C, Chu VT, King ST, Vick J, Tao Q, Mraz A, Stormo A, Stormo K, Bogden R, Ederle D, Stella A, Vecchietti A, Kater MM, Masiero S, Lasserre P, Lespinasse Y, Allan AC, Bus V, Chagné D, Crowhurst RN, Gleave AP, Lavezzo E, Fawcett JA, Proost S, Rouzé P, Sterck L, Toppo S, Lazzari B, Hellens RP, Durel CE, Gutin A, Bumgarner RE, Gardiner SE, Skolnick M, Egholm M, van de Peer Y, Salamini F, Viola R (2010) The genome of the domesticated apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.). Nat Genet 42:833–839. https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webster AD (2005) Sites and soils for temperate tree-fruit production: their selection and amelioration. In: Tromp J, Webster AD, Wertheim SJ (eds) Fundamentals of temperate zone tree fruit production. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp 12–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiang W, Whiteley DL (1994) Weighting land suitability factors by the PLUS method. Environ Plann B Plann Des 21:273–304. https://doi.org/10.1068/b210273

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Department of Geography, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh (India) for facilitating necessary infrastructural and laboratory facilities to carry out the doctoral thesis–related works.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Dorjee Khandu Government College, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, 790104, India

    Karma Chozom

  2. Department of Geography, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, 791112, India

    Gibji Nimasow

Authors
  1. Karma Chozom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gibji Nimasow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Karma Chozom and Gibji Nimasow. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Karma Chozom and Gibji Nimasow commented on previous versions of the manuscript. Both the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gibji Nimasow.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

The authors declare that the research does not involve human participants and/or animal. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Consent to participate

The authors give consent to participate.

Consent for publication

The authors give consent for publication of the article.

Code availability

Not applicable

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chozom, K., Nimasow, G. GIS- and AHP-based land suitability analysis of Malus domestica Borkh. (apple) in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Appl Geomat 13, 349–360 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12518-021-00354-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12518-021-00354-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation