Abstract:
Assessment of land suitability for irrigation is important to utilize resources efficiently, sustainable production of crops and increasing food security of the ever-increasing people in the study area. The study was initiated with the objective of soil property analysis and land suitability evaluation at Tebilo irrigation scheme, North West Ethiopia. Based on slope gradient and soil depth, the entire study area was categorized into four slope, two soil depths then divide in to four land mapping units (LMUs). Within four-slope gradient and two soil depth factors on three replication, 24 composite soil samples were collected. Slope suitability map of the study area were derived from digital elevation model of the area clipped from DEM satellite with 30 m resolution by masking layer of the scheme. For data analysis, general linear model procedure of SAS version 9.0 were used, Furthermore, among 439 irrigated users,71 house hold were selected purposely and interviewed. Parametric evaluation were apply. The statistical analysis of soil properties revealed that, clay, bulk density, pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, C/N ratio, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases, calcium carbonate and CEC were significantly affected (p < 0.05 and/or p < 0.01) by slope and soil depth. However, the silt content were not significantly (p >0.05) affected by slope. The lowest mean bulk density and the highest content clay, soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, CEC and exchangeable bases were recorded in gentle slope. The result showed that considering slope suitability, gentle slope 452.140ha (47.71 %) were highly suitable and moderately steep slope 32.144 ha (3.39 %) was not suitable and suitability of land showed that 96.3% (915.628 ha) are moderately suitable (S2), and 3.39 % (32.1446 ha) currently not suitable (S3) for irrigation. From the socio economic, perspective there was shortage of water in pike irrigation season and there was problem of infrastructure and market information.Road access, market information, transportation, and improving the availability of TN, Av p and CEC by addition of organic matter and fertilizer.
Key words: Land Suitability, Irrigation, Soil properties, parametric method