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Assessing land suitability for rainfed paddy rice production in Zambia

Makungwe, Mirriam; Chabala, Lydia Mumbi; Van Dijk, Michiel; Chishala, Benson H.; Lark, R. Murray

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Authors

Mirriam Makungwe

Lydia Mumbi Chabala

Michiel Van Dijk

Benson H. Chishala

Profile image of MURRAY LARK

MURRAY LARK MURRAY.LARK@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Geoinformatics



Abstract

Rice is one of the staple food crops and is a profitable smallholder cash crop in Zambia. It has the potential to contribute significantly to increased incomes and employment among rural producers. However, rice is the only staple crop in the country for which domestic production does not meet or exceed domestic demand. Low productivity is one of the factors that contribute to this. One necessary step towards addressing this problem is the identification of land with greatest potential for rice production, as well as the identification of land-based limitations which might be overcome by improved management. The aim of this study was to develop a land suitability index for rainfed paddy rice production reflecting expert opinion and published studies based on climatic, topographic and soil properties. Land suitability was evaluated using a method which accounts for important multiple factors, and which considers their joint effect in terms of a hierarchical model of constraints. The suitability classes were ranked according to the FAO land suitability classification as: Highly Suitable (S1), Moderately Suitable (S2), Marginally Suitable (S3), Currently Not Suitable (N2), and Permanently Not Suitable (N1). Results showed that there is limited potential for rainfed paddy rice production in Zambia with

Citation

Makungwe, M., Chabala, L. M., Van Dijk, M., Chishala, B. H., & Lark, R. M. (2021). Assessing land suitability for rainfed paddy rice production in Zambia. Geoderma Regional, 27, Article e00438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2021.e00438

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 30, 2021
Online Publication Date Sep 2, 2021
Publication Date 2021-12
Deposit Date Oct 6, 2021
Publicly Available Date Sep 3, 2023
Journal Geoderma Regional
Print ISSN 2352-0094
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 27
Article Number e00438
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2021.e00438
Keywords Soil Science
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6304394
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352009421000833?via%3Dihub
Additional Information This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Assessing land suitability for rainfed paddy rice production in Zambia; Journal Title: Geoderma Regional; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2021.e00438