Establishment of digital land resources database for land use planning: a case study of eastern Morogoro rural district, Tanzania
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Date
2001
Authors
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A study was conducted in the eastern part of Morogoro Rural District to establish
digital land resources database which could be used when making decision on land
use planning. Four Divisions namely; Mkuyuni, Matombo, Mvuha and Bwakira
Chini were included in the study. Land resources data for climate (rainfall and
temperature), physiography and soils and socio-economic were collected and
compiled from field survey and other sources. The data were analysed, characterised
and computerized to generate digital land resources database. The generated
databases were stored, manipulated and geoproccssed using computer and various
softwares to produce digital spatial and non-spatial information which included
thematic maps for elevation, climate, length of growing period (LGP), soils and
agroecological zones. Tables on land attribute database, descriptive soil legend and
reports were other digital products generated. The digital databases were then used to
run land evaluation for the area. Automated land evaluation system (ALES) was
employed to compute physical land suitability Evaluation for specified land
utilization types (LUTs) i.e. maize, rice, citrus and sesame. The results of the
suitability evaluation showed that 57% of the area could be used to produce maize,
85% to produce citrus, 22% paddy and 78% to produce sesame; with production
potentials ranging from moderate to poor for all studied LUTs. The major limitations
were erosion hazard, nutrient availability, rooting condition and wetness. Citrus was
more suited to the area, followed by sesame, maize and lowland rice. The study has
demonstrated that greater capability for storing, displaying spatial and non-spatial
data in different forms and scales, data analysis and computation of land evaluations exist when land resources data are captured in digital format. Basing on this
conclusion, it is highly recommended that land resources data at any level should be
inventoried and automated to simplify the process of land use planning.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Digital land resources, Land use planning