GIS-Based FUCOM Method for Assessing Land Suitability for Almond Cultivation in Midyat, Southeastern Türkiye

Abstract

Conducting land suitability assessments is essential for agricultural planning, productivity, and sustainability. This study develops a land suitability model for almond cultivation in Midyat, Turkiye, by integrating the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Key criteria, including temperature, rainfall, elevation, slope, soil characteristics, and land use capability, were weighted using FUCOM based on expert and farmer input. The suitability map, generated via a weighted overlay method, classified land into five categories: highly suitable (512.72 ha), moderately suitable (32,783.22 ha), marginally suitable (55,295.96 ha), not suitable (342.66 ha), and restricted areas (35,204.06 ha). Validation through ROC analysis yielded an AUC value of 0.817, indicating a high level of classification performance for the suitability model, confirming substantial accuracy. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first application of FUCOM in almond land suitability studies, providing valuable insights for farmers and policymakers in agricultural land management.