Abstract:
The purpose of the research was to apply the GIS approach to find land suitability for potato cultivation in
Welimada Divisional Secretariat (DS). The task applied GIS-MCDA and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). For the suitability
classification, soil, physical, and socioeconomic factors were considered. While ph and salinity were sub-criteria under the
soil elevation, slope, and water availability were sub-criteria under physical factors. Road and market proximity, land use
were considered as sub-criteria under socio-economic factors. Suitability classification was performed through several steps
including structuring, standardizing, calculating criteria weights, assign weights for criteria, and suitability assessment. As
result, 41% of the total land was moderately suitable for potato cultivation and 23% of the area was highly suitable. Only
4% of the land was classified as least suitable and 14%, 15% of the land classified as low suitable and marginal suitable
area respectively. These results provide knowledge about the interaction and relationship of the criteria. So, this research
can be utilized as a model for fruitful potato cultivation practices as well as, it can be taken as a guide for future land use
assessment in potato growing areas, especially in Sri Lanka.
