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. The chemical properties of soil were measured in every two-hectare grid of the barangay and were 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 amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and organic matter due to the possible presence of vegetation and roaming of animals in the area. It is highly recommended to improve their nutrients and put in additional fertilizers to attain the desired amount of soil. Other factors such as temperature, relative humidity, annual rainfall, slope, and elevation were determined and found to be permanently highly suitable. Rainfall is very high so it must be properly drained. For the future study, the researcher recommends that this map should be considered as it was conducted by 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 need for planting bananas, cassava, corn, and rice.