Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo.2024;48:e0230062.
An evaluation of land-use capability using the LESA method coupled with geostatistics in a GIS environment
Yingchao Wang 
, Hu Chen , Linshen Wang
26/Jul/2024
DOI: 10.36783/18069657rbcs20230062
Highlights
Study employs GIS and geostatistical tools to enhance land assessment methods.
Applying LESA methodology, to evaluate agricultural potential on calcareous soils.
LESA showed 27.9, 47.9, 18.8, and 5.4% is non-, marginally-, moderately-, and highly-suitable for farming.
ABSTRACT
Land-use effectiveness can be ensured by utilizing GIS and geostatistical tools in conjunction with land assessment methods to prevent soil erosion and salinization. This study employs a GIS-based LESA methodology, combined with geostatistics, to evaluate the land’s capacity to produce agricultural crops on calcareous soils. Land Evaluation for Agricultural Uses (LESA) key components are site assessment and land evaluation, with the former being non-soil-dependent and the latter being soil-dependent. Geostatical kriging was used to interpolate and generalize a GIS map of land capability. The study found that 27.88, 47.94, 18.76, and 5.41 % of the study area were unsuitable for crop farming, marginally suitable, moderately suitable, and highly suitable, respectively. Our research demonstrates that a flexible GIS framework can assist decision-makers in more accurately assessing land resources, including unsuitable, marginally-suitable, and reforested lands.
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