International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-1, Issue-3, Sept-Oct- 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab/1.3.30 ISSN: 2456-1878 Land Suitability Assessment for Maize and Paddy Production in Bogur Microwatershed Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques Denis Magnus Ken Amara 1*, Philip J. Kamanda 2, Parameshgouda L. Patil 3, Augustine M. Kamara 4 1Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Njala Campus, Njala University, Sierra Leone 2&4 Department of Extension & Rural Sociology, School of Agriculture, Njala Campus, Njala University, Sierra Leone 3Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, 580005, Karnataka, India * Corresponding author : Dr. Denis. M. K. Amara, Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Njala University, Sierra Leone. E-mail:
[email protected]. Tel: +23279905400 Abstract ˗˗˗˗ The main aim of this study was to assess the Keywords ˗˗˗˗ Land suitability, maize, paddy, GIS, India, soils of Bogur microwatershed in Northern Transition Zone Denis. of Karnataka for sustainable production of maize and paddy. Seven land qualities including water availability I. INTRODUCTION index (W), oxygen availability (O), nutrient availability Efficient management of natural resources is essential for index (NAI), water retention (I), rooting conditions (R), ensuring food supplies and sustainability in agricultural excess of salts (Sa) and topography (T) were selected and development. The task of meeting the food demand of the their suitability evaluated. Four soils series: Singhanhalli, growing population without affecting the ecological assets Bogur, Mugli and Venkatapur and seventeen soil units for future generations is being given top priority by both including SGH-c-d4-Be1 belonging to Singhanhalli series; scientists and planners.