CROP SUITABILITY EVALUATION OF GRAINS AND COMMERCIAL CROPS IN BARANGAY SPRING, ALABEL SARANGANI PROVINCE

The study aimed to generate a land suitability map of Grains and Commercial Crops in Barangay Spring, Alabel, Sarangani Province. The suitability evaluation was based on the following parameters: soil texture, soil pH, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, temperature, relative humidity, annual rainfall, slope and elevation. Chemical properties of soil were measured in every two-hectare grid of the barangay and was tested in the laboratory. Climate related factors were acquired from PDRRMO-Alabel, Sarangani Province.

The crop suitability evaluation can be interpreted through the maps generated using Quantum Geographic Information software. Analytical Hierarchical Process was then used to determine the importance of parameters. Most of the areas in the barangay are moderately suitable for production.

The areas in the barangay have low amount of nutrients such as nitrogen and organic matter due to possible presence of vegetation and roaming of animals in the area. It is highly recommended to improve their nutrients and put additional fertilizers to attain the desired amount of the soil. Other factors such as temperature, relative humidity, annual rainfall, slope and elevation were determined and found out to be permanently to highly suitable. Rainfall is very high so it must be properly well drained.

For the future study, the researcher recommends that this map should be considered as it was conducted observing all the parameters given in doing this research. Also, the results can be used by the local government to give the farmers the information they needed by for planting banana, cassava, corn, and rice.