Mapping Suitable Areas of Central Luzon, Philippines for Aerobic Rice Production Using GIS-Based Land Suitability Analysis

Abstract

Aerobic rice technology is a production system which involved drought-tolerant rice varieties grown in non-flooded and non-puddled soil in water-scarce areas with appropriate cultural management practices aiming at yield level up to 6.0 tons ha. The study presented suitability maps and spatial data to aerobic rice under different production environments of the Central Luzon Region, Philippines. Simple limitation approach (SLA) was used to derive the overall suitability of aerobic rice production in these areas. Spatial datasets gathered from official sources were likewise used. Of the seven provinces, Nueva Ecija had the biggest potential area of 547,735.80 hectares with 11.49% marked as highly suitable to aerobic rice technology, followed by Bulacan which had a potential area of 255,022.52 hectares with 6.15% marked as highly suitable. Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Aurora and Bataan followed with 6.15 %, 5.88 %, 2.65 %, 1.59 %t and 1.56%, respectively, of their corresponding potential areas suitable for aerobic rice production. The total land area in Central Luzon which was found to be highly suitable for aerobic rice production was 126,959.91 hectares. On the assumption that ART could give an average yield of 4.5 tons per hectare, Central Luzon can supply an additional 571,319.59 metric tons of aerobic rice annually.