Agricultural land suitability assessment for agricultural productivity based on GIS modeling and multi-criteria decision analysis: the case of Tekirdağ province

Grains play a significant role in meeting the nutritional needs of the increasing world population. Consequently, the need for new studies on agricultural production and land suitability assessments has increased. The present paper aims to perform agricultural land suitability assessment to evaluate agricultural productivity in Tekirdağ province to determine precise productive agricultural areas. This study combines a variety of datasets to develop a dynamic model using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis for land suitability assessment and agricultural productivity. The datasets used in this study are supported by terrestrial samples and processed with spatial technologies. The results of the study indicate that the agricultural potential of the provincial lands is quite high. It reveals that 65.7% of province lands are suitable for agricultural production. Of the remaining lands, 20.3% is marginally suitable while only 8% of the land is unsuitable for agricultural production. In the northwestern part, suitable land for agricultural productivity is higher compared to other parts of the study area. This part also corresponds to the areas where industrial activities are marginal. The results also imply that agricultural activities in grain production areas must be reconsidered and replanned according to the new classification of land suitability assessment. In this respect, our study suggests that the policymakers and the government should take necessary steps to ensure the protection and sustainability of agricultural lands while planning for the industrial and settlement development in grain production areas.