Abstract This study delineates potential areas for Kharif maize cultivation in Gajapati district, Odisha, using a geospatial framework integrating the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE). A combination of climatic, soil, and geomorphological parameters was analyzed to develop a comprehensive land suitability map. Thematic layers—such as elevation and slope were generated from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data in ArcGIS Version 10.8. Additional spatial layers, including soil texture, temperature, rainfall, nutrient availability, water holding capacity, and pH, were derived from respective datasets. Terrain analysis showed that about 34% of the area has slopes exceeding 30%, representing a major cultivation constraint. Soil texture is dominated by clay (50%) and loam (49%) soils. Climatic assessment indicated favourable Kharif season conditions, with nearly 64% of the area experiencing optimal temperature ranges and over 55% receiving adequate rainfall for maize growth. Soil nutrient analysis revealed adequate nitrogen availability in about 54% of the region, while phosphorus limitations remain a key constraint. Approximately 34% of the area exhibited suitable water-holding capacity, and nearly 44% of the land falls within favourable soil pH conditions, though acidic soils are widespread in several locations. The integrated weighted overlay analysis classified 59.1% of the total area as suitable for maize cultivation, including 43.4% moderately suitable and 15.1% highly suitable land. The results provide spatially explicit guidance for improving crop planning, optimizing land resource utilization, and supporting sustainable maize production and agricultural decision-making.
Goraguddi et al. (Sat,) studied this question.