CROP SUITABILITY OF SELECTED VEGETABLE CROPS IN BARANGAY LUMAKIL, POLOMOLOK, SOUTH COTABATO

Agriculture has been the mainstay of the economy and will remain the same for the coming many years, however, reliable soil data are needed for the design of appropriate land use systems and soil management practices. This study could be a great help for the future agricultural advancement of the area and improve the standard of living of the people in the barangay. The study focused on collecting soil samples every five hectares of Barangay Lumakil, Polomolok, South Cotabato, and identifying the properties of each soil sample, namely, soil texture, N-P-K component, organic matter content, and pH level. Climatic and topographic conditions of the Barangay and experts ' ratings were also considered in analyzing the overall suitability of the area. The data were ranked and calculated according to their relative importance through AHP Approach. Maps were then generated using QGIS. Given all the data, the study shows that barangay Lumakil is highly suitable for Tomato and moderately suitable for bell pepper, eggplant, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, and string beans in most areas. For areas that have deficient or low soil nutrients, applying fertilizers and attending to the soil must be done to improve soil conditions. Proper irrigation and aeration of soil are needed to increase the production of vegetables.