Comprehensive suitability evaluation of alfalfa cultivation using GIS and RS: A case study in Duolun, China

Alfalfa is one of the most valuable forage crops in north China. To select the most suitable area of alfalfa cultivation in Duolun County, China, we used multi-source data which include sensing data, meteorological data, soil data, DEM and modified a fuzzy function to make it suit alfalfa. Eleven important factors which impact the growing of alfalfa were selected to assess the suitability. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to obtain the weight of each factor, and the multiple criteria decision making method was used to get the finally suitability score of each evaluation unit in arcgis9.3. Combining with the guide line of the land suitability evaluation of FAO, the land unit was evaluated as highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable and unsuitable.