GIS-based multicriteria overlay analysis in soil-suitability evaluation for cotton (Gossypium spp.): A case study in the black soil region of Central India

In this study an attempt was made to characterize the soils of the Ringanbodi watershed, Nagpur district, Maharashtra, Central India, for soil-suitability evaluation for cotton using geographic information system (GIS)-based multicriteria overlay analysis techniques. The study shows that 8 soil series and 16 soil series associations in the study area and soils were classified into three orders, i.e., Entisol, Inceptisol, and Vertisol. The analysis reveals that the soil associations E–F, F–G, G–H, and H–G are “moderately suitable” (S2), D–E are “marginally to moderately suitable,” and C–D are marginally (S3) suitable. However, soils B–C are “not suitable” to “marginally suitable” (N2–S3) and A–B are “unsuitable” (N2) for cultivation of cotton. The area analysis shows that for a cotton crop an area about 966.7 ha (49.1%) of TGA is moderately suitable and classified as S2. An area about 469.9 ha (23.8%) of TGA is marginal to moderately suitable (S3–S2). The marginally suitable soils for cotton are classified as S3 and cover an area about 35.2 ha (1.8%) of TGA. However, a 172.3 ha (8.7%) area is not suitable (N2) to marginally suitable (S3) and a 326.9 (16.6%) area is not suitable (N2) for cotton because of uncorrectable factors like soil depth, slope, etc. The study demonstrated that GIS-based multicriteria overlay analysis of soil thematic parameters will be of immense help in soil-suitability evaluation for cotton.