Page 164 - AJWEP-22-4

Deresse, et al.

Table 1. Criteria and factors determining land suitability for coffee production
Criteria Sub‑criteria Suitability range Suitability class References
Topography Slope (%) 0 – 5 S2 2,18
5 – 10 S1
10 – 20 S3
20 – 40 N1
>40 N2
Elevation 1100 – 1200 m N1
1200 – 1600 m S1
1600 – 2000 m S2
2000 – 2300 m S3
Soil Texture Chromic Luvisols S3 32
Eutric Vertisols S1
Humic Nitosols S2
Lithic Leptosols N1
Water bodies N2
Eutric Fluvisols N1
Eutric Leptosols N1
pH <3.5; >6.7 N1 21
3.5 – 5.0 S3
5.0 – 5.5 S1
5.5 – 6.7 S2
Depth >120 m S2
<30 m S3
30 – 90 m S1
Climate Temperature <17.5°C; >25°C N1 29
17.5 – 20°C S2
20 – 22.5°C S1
22.5 – 25°C S3
Rainfall 470 – 860 mm N1
860 – 1050 mm N
1050 – 1200 mm S3
1200 – 1400 mm S1
1400 – 1900 mm S2
Landscape LULC Cultivated land S1 47; Expert knowledge
Forest land S2
Woodland S3
Settlement S3
Grassland N1
Bare land N1
Water body N2
Proximity Roads, rivers, and markets Buffer analysis S; N 12
Notes: Land suitability classification for this study was obtained from the FAO framework for land evaluation; 21,48 highly suitable (S1),
moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), not suitable (N1), and permanently not suitable (N2).
Abbreviation: LULC: Land use land cover.

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 156 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025190143