Use of a GIS-Based AHP and Parametric Square Root Method for Land Suitability Assessment of Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) on Gurumpawo Toposequence

This study assessed the cultivation potential of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) along Gurumpawo toposequence, Ganye, Adamawa State, using the parametric square root method (SRM) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Sustainable groundnut production in the area is threatened by declining soil fertility and topographic variability, while site-specific suitability information for precision land management remains inadequate. In addition, limited studies have compared the performance and spatial reliability of conventional parametric and multi-criteria decision models for groundnut suitability assessment across the toposequence. This study determined selected soil properties and compared the spatial outputs of SRM and AHP models for sustainable land-use planning. A digital elevation model was used to delineate crest, upper, middle, and lower slopes, as well as floodplain units within a 100 ha landscape using ArcGIS 10.7.1. Soil samples were analyzed for texture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation. Suitability assessment was conducted using SRM based on profile data, whereas AHP utilized auger-based spatial datasets. Spatial comparisons of suitability class geometries and area coverage were performed on ArcGIS, and the agreement between the two models was tested using Pearson’s Chi-square (X2). Soils across the toposequence were characterized by low fertility, with organic carbon (