Land suitability analysis using a multicriteria decision‐making approach for optimal irrigation in a medium irrigation scheme in West Bengal, India

Abstract

The present study aspires to distinguish suitable irrigation lands using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information system (GIS) of the Shali River basin area, which is a part of the Shali reservoir irrigation project (medium irrigation project) of West Bengal, India. Therefore, 12 factors were identified as criteria, including elevation, slope, rainfall, soil group, sand, silt, clay, nitrogen, pH, organic carbon, land use and land cover (LULC) and river distance. The results show that the Shali Basin has approximately 64% irrigation‐suitable land. The irrigational suitability reveals that the villages near the river have highly irrigation‐suitable lands. Therefore, it can be said that the distance to the river plays a major role as it determines the irrigation water availability. It is therefore advisable to install rainwater catchment structures in villages that are significantly distant from the river. This study may help farmers to select cropping patterns according to irrigation suitability and the concerned readers to understand the irrigation land suitability analysis with appropriate parameters and methods under any medium irrigation project.