Assessment of the suitability of land use for agriculture by analytical hierarchy process : AHP in lower Prachinburi watershed, eastern Thailand

Abstract

       The low Prachinburi watershed is a gateway to other regions of the country.  Due to a rapid increase in population there, there is also an increase in agricultural production area.  This study aims to assess the appropriateness of land use by using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for land use planning.

            Results of the study revealed that there is a moderate level of the appropriateness in land use development.  The most appropriate area (S1) accounts for 22.07 percent; the moderately appropriate area (S2) accounts for 54.15 percent; the lowly appropriate area (S3) accounts for 10.25 percent; and the inappropriate area accounts 13.52 percent of the area.  Regarding a guideline for agricultural area management, it is found to be mostly appropriate particularly on field crop growing such as cassava, sugar cane, and maize growing and followed by rice growing and or charding (58.51, 25.17, and 6.04 percent, respectively).  Only 10.25 percent of the total area is inappropriate for farming.