Workshop Proceedings - Inter Islamic Network on Space Sciences ...

Theme 2: Agriculture Landuse
Land Suitability Assessment For Rice Crop In Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib
Districts, Using GIS Techniques
Shahid Parvez, Faiza Rehman, Salman Ijaz, Muhammad Ikram
Abstract:
Land suitability assessment studies for crop production
in certain areas provide opportunities and limitations to
decision makers and thus help in planning for alternative
landuses in the unsuitable areas. Optimizing utility of a
land parcel for a specific Landuse is directly based on its
qualitative & quantitative attributes along with historical
information. Soil, environment and ground water
conditions are the most important attributes / factors
required for assessing suitability of a land. Since suitability
is a function of soil / land characteristics, therefore, it is
a measure of how well the requirements of a particular
landuse match with the requirements of a land parcel.
Geographic Information System (GIS) functionality helps
a lot in spatial decision making. In land suitability
assessment studies, many data layers are to be handled
in order to assess the overall suitability and this can easily
be done in GIS environment. The methodology adopted
combines most aspects of soil, environment and ground
water quality attributes that affect crop suitability at large.
Good management practice is assumed; including the use
of appropriate crop varieties, fertilizers, irrigation, sowing
period, etc.. The land suitability classification system of
FAO [1] has been used to assess the overall land suitability
for rice crop in combination to a weighted GIS model.
Key words: Land Suitability Assessment, GIS, GPS, Soil,
Agriculture, Food Security.
Introduction
Rice has been one of the most important foods for
mankind and now this irreplaceable grain is feeding about
two-thirds of the world’s population [2]. Pakistan has two
major rice-producing provinces, namely Punjab and Sindh.
Both provinces account for more than 88 percent of total
rice production. Punjab due to its agro-climatic and soil
conditions is producing 100 percent of Basmati rice in the
country. Important rice producing districts in Punjab are
Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Okara, Hafizabad, Mandi
Bahaudin Din and Jhang accounting for more than 70
percent of Basmati rice production in the country [3]. Rice
is one of the most important cereals of Pakistan and
occupies second position after wheat. It is also an
important source of foreign exchange earnings. Rice is
grown on an area of 2.7 million hectares, with an annual
production of 6.2 million tons, giving an average yield of
3.10 t/ha [4]. Its importance in the national economy
needs no emphasis as it accounts for 6.1 percent of the
total value added in agriculture and about 1.3 percent to
GDP [5]. Despite having steady irrigation water supply,
rice yields are low for both Basmati and non-basmati
crops. 25% higher yield can be attained at present level
of inputs. This can be done by improving farmmanagement
practices through improved institutional
and emerging technologies. Sustaining yields are of more
immediate concern even at present level. Non-basmati
yields are stagnating and those of basmati are declining.
The cause for this stagnation and declination are thought
to be the increasing salinity caused by injudicious use of
irrigation water, unfit underground water, mismanagement
in use of fertilizers, depletion of soil nutrients, application
of contaminated industrial waste water to crops and
insufficient economic drives for long term investments in
land and soil improvements [6].
The objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability of
land for rice cultivation in Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib
Districts of Punjab. The study area plays an important role
in providing agricultural commodities to Pakistan.
Study Area
Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib Districts are very
important for our agricultural commodity and occupy an
area of 5959 km squares. Fig. 1 shows the location of the
study area in Pakistan, whereas the Fig. 2 shows the actual
study area (curtsy Google Earth). About one fourth of the
total area (1602 km squares) is land with high potential
under irrigation and its dominant part is clayey (74%).
About one third (2010 km squares) consists of land with
moderate and some high economic potential under
irrigation. About 37 % is saline sodic, but with good
structure. About one tenth (577 km squares) of the area
is land with poor grazing potential. More than half (62%)
comprises dense, impervious strongly saline-sodic soils,
reclamation of which is not considered practical. The
remainder (194 km squares) comprises rock outcrops,
riverbed and urban land; which has not been considered
suitable for general agricultural development [7].
Fig. (1) Location of the study area in Pakistan (highlighted in
green color). [Curtsy Google Earth]
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