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Adzemi Mat Arshad1, 2, Mustika Edi Armanto1 and Abdullah Md. Zain1
1. Faculty of Agrotechnology and Food Science, University Malaysia, Terengganu 21030, Malaysia
2. Department of Forest Management and Department of Land Management, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
Received: July 12, 2011 / Accepted: August 16, 2011 / Published: February 20, 2012.
Abstract: Land evaluation assesses the suitability of land for specified land uses. The FAO Framework for Land Evaluation provides guidance for land suitability assessment. An Expert System Land Evaluation for Oil Palm Cultivation (ESLEOP) software was developed using climate, land qualities and land characteristics as diagnostic criteria in order to speed up the process of land assessment for oil palm cultivation in tropical regions. The results showed that ESLEOP evaluated land suitability for oil palm cultivation faster than the conventional method.
Key words: Expert system, climate, land characteristics, land qualities, oil palm.
1. Introduction?
Land evaluation for oil palm cultivation based on FAO’s method requires many data, involves calculation and references to tables and is tedious if many possibilities are to be compared. Manual methods for calculation of land suitability for oil palm cultivation are time consuming. An inexperience evaluator will find it difficult and will take longer time to accomplish such task and the process is subject to human error. It is impotent to have a device whereby the process of matching and making decisions which can speed up and will avoid unintentional mistakes. The solution to this is the development of an expert system for land evaluation.
2. Materials and Methods
Expert System Land Evaluation for Oil Palm Cultivation (ESLEOP) is a window based and small scale expert system of land evaluation for oil palm cultivation in tropical regions. It was developed using Visual Basic Ver. 6 programming language by Microsoft. The evaluation procedures are based on FAO Framework for Land Evaluation [1] which involves the evaluation of climate, land characteristics and land qualities of a given land unit. The ESLEOP programme flowchart is as shown in Fig. 1.
3. Results and Discussion
Fig. 2 shows the result for the programming of introduction to ESLEOP programme. By clicking Start the Programme button, ESLEOP will display the result for the programming of programme ownership (Fig. 3). 3.1 Evaluation of Climate
ESLEOP involves the evaluation of climate. Fig. 4 shows the results for the programming of the evaluation of climate for oil palm cultivation in different regions.
The name of meteorological station where the climatic data is going to be analyzed is first entered under the station column of the data entry table.
Fig. 1 The ESLEOP programme flowchart.
On the same row of the meteorological station, the climatic data are entered according to climatic characteristics as shown in Fig. 4.
A matching of the climatic data for the region with the evaluation criteria of climate suitability (Table 1) is done through ESLEOP inference mechanism developed in ESLEOP database.
The result will be displayed in the result table of the evaluation of climate (Fig. 4). The principles of FAO Framework for Land Evaluation [1] were used together with the methodology of combined limitation-parametric evaluation.
In parametric approach, the ratings of the climatic factors are multiplied in order to obtain a final score that is the climatic index and this represents the actual climate suitability classification.
When improvement in management is made, the only factor that can be improved is the humidity factor and this will result in the potential climate suitability classification of the region (Fig. 4). Fig. 5 shows example of inference mechanism for the evaluation of climate.
Fig. 2 Introduction to ESLEOP programme.
Fig. 3 ESLEOP programme ownership.
Fig. 4 Main analysis menu for ESLEOP, data entry and results for evaluation of climate.
Table 1 Climatic requirements for oil palm cultivation.
Fig. 5 Inference mechanism for the evaluation of climate.
3.2 Evaluation of Land Characteristics
The evaluation of land for oil palm cultivation is by using land characteristics. ESLEOP uses the soil and landscape criteria [2].
The result for the programming of the evaluation of actual suitability classification of land units for oil palm cultivation by using land characteristics is as shown in Fig. 6. When the user clicks Analysis of Land Characteristics button, two tables will appear on the computer screen.
The first table shows the actual suitability classification of land characteristics while the second table shows the potential suitability classification of land characteristics (Fig. 6). When highlighting the first table, the land characteristic data are entered in the data entry table according to land characteristic criteria displayed in the table.
The characteristics of Wetness (Flood), Wetness(Drainage) and Texture/Structure for the Physical Soil Characteristics criteria are programmed in the pop up menu where the user may choose from the data that is displayed.
A matching of land characteristic criteria with soil and landscape criteria as in Table 2 is done through ESLEOP inference mechanism developed in ESLEOP database.
The results will be displayed in the result table (Fig. 6). The ratings of land characteristic criteria and climate criteria are multiplied in order to arrive at a final score called land index and this represents the actual suitability classification of land characteristics.
Fig. 7 shows example of inference mechanism for the evaluation of land characteristic.
The results for the programming of potential suitability classification of the land units for oil palm cultivation using land characteristics is as shown in Fig. 8. If the limitation of land characteristic is not a permanent one and it can be improved, then the land characteristic criteria will be improved.
The data will be entered in the data entry table (Fig. 8) and the same inference mechanism will be employed. The ratings of land characteristics and the data of potential climate suitability classification are multiplied in order to arrive at land index value for potential suitability classification of land characteristics.
Fig. 6 Data entry and results for actual suitability classification of the land units by using land characteristics.
Table 2 Land suitability requirements for oil palm based on land characteristics.
Fig. 7 Inference mechanism for evaluation of land characteristics.
3.3 Evaluation of Land Qualities
The results for the programming of actual suitability classification of the land units for oil palm cultivation by using land qualities and potential suitability classification of the land units by using land qualities are as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 respectively.
By clicking Analysis of Land Qualities button, two tables will be displayed on the computer screen. The first table is the actual suitability classification of land units for oil palm cultivation by using land qualities while the second table is the potential suitability classification of land units for oil palm cultivation by using land qualities for oil palm cultivation.
The evaluation of land qualities ESLEOP uses land qualities criteria [2]. The actual land qualities data are entered in the data entry table as shown in Fig. 9. A matching of land qualities data with land qualities criteria [2] is done through ESLEOP inference mechanism stored in ESLEOP database.
The results will be displayed in the result table as shown in Fig. 9. Each of land quality criteria together with actual climate suitability classification data are multiplied in order to arrive at land index. The limitation of land qualities criteria that can be improved and the one that cannot be improved will be entered in the data entry table (Fig. 9).
The same inference mechanism is employed for the evaluation of potential suitability classification of land qualities.
Each of the land quality criteria together with potential climate suitability classification data are multiplied to arrive at land index values.
The results will be displayed in the result table as shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 11 shows example of inference mechanism for the evaluation of land qualities. The actual and potential suitability classification of climate, land characteristics and land qualities indices are compared in the database developed in ESLEOP programme as shown in Fig. 12 to arrive at suitability classes.
Fig. 8 Data entry and results for potential suitability classification of the land units for oil palm cultivation by using land characteristics.
Fig. 9 Data entry and results for actual suitability classification of the land units for oil palm cultivation by using land qualities.
3.4 ESLEOP Validation
ESLEOP validation is important because validation increases the confidence of user regarding its usefulness for its designed purpose. The accuracy of ESLEOP was tested by evaluating the data already evaluated by an expert evaluator. The results of ESLEOP evaluation were compared to the expert evaluation in order to check its accuracy.
The evaluation of climate in nine meteorological stations in Peninsular Malaysia has been assessed [2] by methodology of combined limitation-parametric approach and the same data were used to evaluate with ESLEOP. The results showed that there was no difference in the suitability classification of actual and potential climate suitability classification of the nine regions obtained by using ESLEOP and by using manual method.
ESLEOP was also tested by using land characteristics and land qualities data of 45 land units for oil palm cultivation in Peninsular Malaysia [2]. Suitability evaluation with ESLEOP was carried out by using land characteristics and land qualities data [3, 4].
The results showed that there was no difference in the suitability classification of the land unit obtained by ESLEOP and the evaluation by using manual
method of calculation of data.
Fig. 10 Data entry and results for potential suitability classification of the land units for oil palm cultivation by using land qualities.
Fig. 11 Inference mechanism for evaluation of land qualities.
Fig. 12 Suitability classes for climate, land characteristics and land qualities.
3.5 Printing the Results
A hard copy of the results can be obtained by clicking File menu and select Print.
3.6 Saving the Work
To save changes to an existing work can by clicking File menu and select Save.
3.7 Quitting the Window Analysis and the Programme
To close the window analysis or to quit the programme is by clicking the button in the upper right corner of the window, next to minimize and maximize button. Software installation and system requirements are as in Help button of the programme.
4. Conclusion
The decision to computerise the methodology of land evaluation procedures are based on large amount of data collected during soil surveys which could be a possible constraint associated with conventional method of land evaluation for oil palm cultivation.
A window based and a user-friendly computer software package for PC was developed for land suitability evaluation for oil palm cultivation.
ESLEOP is able to print hardcopies of the evaluation of climate, land characteristics and land qualities inclusive of actual and potential suitability classification.
Users can with the aid of ESLEOP, evaluate land suitability for oil palm cultivation faster than with conventional method.
The programme is designed for use by nonprogrammers and may have commercial and research application.
The simplicity of the developed ESLEOP software is such that it is easily operated and it is also versatile because the end user has to key in the data in the appropriate column provided on the computer screen during the interaction with the system.
The methodology by which ESLEOP was developed was according to the FAO method of land evaluation. This shows that the FAO method of land evaluation for oil palm cultivation can be used in Peninsular Malaysia. This programme can reduce the problems facing by many land evaluators for oil palm cultivation in Malaysia and elsewhere.
Acknowledgments
This project was conducted at Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry and Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia. The authors thank the University for allowing them to use the facilities.
References
[1] A Framework for Land Evaluation, Soil Bulletin, FAO, Rome, Italy, 1976. p. 32.
[2] M.A. Adzemi, Development of land evaluation system for Elaeis guineensis Jacg. in peninsular Malaysia, Ph.D Thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor, Malaysia, 1999, p. 582.
[3] C. Sys, E. Van Ranst, J. Debaveye, Land Evaluation Part 1, Inter. Train. Centre for Post-Grad. Soil Scientist, State Univ. Ghent, Belgium, 1991, p. 274.
[4] A.O. Ogunkunle, Soil in land suitability evaluation: An example with oil palm in Nigeria, Soil Use and Management 9 (1993) 35-40.
1. Faculty of Agrotechnology and Food Science, University Malaysia, Terengganu 21030, Malaysia
2. Department of Forest Management and Department of Land Management, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
Received: July 12, 2011 / Accepted: August 16, 2011 / Published: February 20, 2012.
Abstract: Land evaluation assesses the suitability of land for specified land uses. The FAO Framework for Land Evaluation provides guidance for land suitability assessment. An Expert System Land Evaluation for Oil Palm Cultivation (ESLEOP) software was developed using climate, land qualities and land characteristics as diagnostic criteria in order to speed up the process of land assessment for oil palm cultivation in tropical regions. The results showed that ESLEOP evaluated land suitability for oil palm cultivation faster than the conventional method.
Key words: Expert system, climate, land characteristics, land qualities, oil palm.
1. Introduction?
Land evaluation for oil palm cultivation based on FAO’s method requires many data, involves calculation and references to tables and is tedious if many possibilities are to be compared. Manual methods for calculation of land suitability for oil palm cultivation are time consuming. An inexperience evaluator will find it difficult and will take longer time to accomplish such task and the process is subject to human error. It is impotent to have a device whereby the process of matching and making decisions which can speed up and will avoid unintentional mistakes. The solution to this is the development of an expert system for land evaluation.
2. Materials and Methods
Expert System Land Evaluation for Oil Palm Cultivation (ESLEOP) is a window based and small scale expert system of land evaluation for oil palm cultivation in tropical regions. It was developed using Visual Basic Ver. 6 programming language by Microsoft. The evaluation procedures are based on FAO Framework for Land Evaluation [1] which involves the evaluation of climate, land characteristics and land qualities of a given land unit. The ESLEOP programme flowchart is as shown in Fig. 1.
3. Results and Discussion
Fig. 2 shows the result for the programming of introduction to ESLEOP programme. By clicking Start the Programme button, ESLEOP will display the result for the programming of programme ownership (Fig. 3). 3.1 Evaluation of Climate
ESLEOP involves the evaluation of climate. Fig. 4 shows the results for the programming of the evaluation of climate for oil palm cultivation in different regions.
The name of meteorological station where the climatic data is going to be analyzed is first entered under the station column of the data entry table.
Fig. 1 The ESLEOP programme flowchart.
On the same row of the meteorological station, the climatic data are entered according to climatic characteristics as shown in Fig. 4.
A matching of the climatic data for the region with the evaluation criteria of climate suitability (Table 1) is done through ESLEOP inference mechanism developed in ESLEOP database.
The result will be displayed in the result table of the evaluation of climate (Fig. 4). The principles of FAO Framework for Land Evaluation [1] were used together with the methodology of combined limitation-parametric evaluation.
In parametric approach, the ratings of the climatic factors are multiplied in order to obtain a final score that is the climatic index and this represents the actual climate suitability classification.
When improvement in management is made, the only factor that can be improved is the humidity factor and this will result in the potential climate suitability classification of the region (Fig. 4). Fig. 5 shows example of inference mechanism for the evaluation of climate.
Fig. 2 Introduction to ESLEOP programme.
Fig. 3 ESLEOP programme ownership.
Fig. 4 Main analysis menu for ESLEOP, data entry and results for evaluation of climate.
Table 1 Climatic requirements for oil palm cultivation.
Fig. 5 Inference mechanism for the evaluation of climate.
3.2 Evaluation of Land Characteristics
The evaluation of land for oil palm cultivation is by using land characteristics. ESLEOP uses the soil and landscape criteria [2].
The result for the programming of the evaluation of actual suitability classification of land units for oil palm cultivation by using land characteristics is as shown in Fig. 6. When the user clicks Analysis of Land Characteristics button, two tables will appear on the computer screen.
The first table shows the actual suitability classification of land characteristics while the second table shows the potential suitability classification of land characteristics (Fig. 6). When highlighting the first table, the land characteristic data are entered in the data entry table according to land characteristic criteria displayed in the table.
The characteristics of Wetness (Flood), Wetness(Drainage) and Texture/Structure for the Physical Soil Characteristics criteria are programmed in the pop up menu where the user may choose from the data that is displayed.
A matching of land characteristic criteria with soil and landscape criteria as in Table 2 is done through ESLEOP inference mechanism developed in ESLEOP database.
The results will be displayed in the result table (Fig. 6). The ratings of land characteristic criteria and climate criteria are multiplied in order to arrive at a final score called land index and this represents the actual suitability classification of land characteristics.
Fig. 7 shows example of inference mechanism for the evaluation of land characteristic.
The results for the programming of potential suitability classification of the land units for oil palm cultivation using land characteristics is as shown in Fig. 8. If the limitation of land characteristic is not a permanent one and it can be improved, then the land characteristic criteria will be improved.
The data will be entered in the data entry table (Fig. 8) and the same inference mechanism will be employed. The ratings of land characteristics and the data of potential climate suitability classification are multiplied in order to arrive at land index value for potential suitability classification of land characteristics.
Fig. 6 Data entry and results for actual suitability classification of the land units by using land characteristics.
Table 2 Land suitability requirements for oil palm based on land characteristics.
Fig. 7 Inference mechanism for evaluation of land characteristics.
3.3 Evaluation of Land Qualities
The results for the programming of actual suitability classification of the land units for oil palm cultivation by using land qualities and potential suitability classification of the land units by using land qualities are as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 respectively.
By clicking Analysis of Land Qualities button, two tables will be displayed on the computer screen. The first table is the actual suitability classification of land units for oil palm cultivation by using land qualities while the second table is the potential suitability classification of land units for oil palm cultivation by using land qualities for oil palm cultivation.
The evaluation of land qualities ESLEOP uses land qualities criteria [2]. The actual land qualities data are entered in the data entry table as shown in Fig. 9. A matching of land qualities data with land qualities criteria [2] is done through ESLEOP inference mechanism stored in ESLEOP database.
The results will be displayed in the result table as shown in Fig. 9. Each of land quality criteria together with actual climate suitability classification data are multiplied in order to arrive at land index. The limitation of land qualities criteria that can be improved and the one that cannot be improved will be entered in the data entry table (Fig. 9).
The same inference mechanism is employed for the evaluation of potential suitability classification of land qualities.
Each of the land quality criteria together with potential climate suitability classification data are multiplied to arrive at land index values.
The results will be displayed in the result table as shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 11 shows example of inference mechanism for the evaluation of land qualities. The actual and potential suitability classification of climate, land characteristics and land qualities indices are compared in the database developed in ESLEOP programme as shown in Fig. 12 to arrive at suitability classes.
Fig. 8 Data entry and results for potential suitability classification of the land units for oil palm cultivation by using land characteristics.
Fig. 9 Data entry and results for actual suitability classification of the land units for oil palm cultivation by using land qualities.
3.4 ESLEOP Validation
ESLEOP validation is important because validation increases the confidence of user regarding its usefulness for its designed purpose. The accuracy of ESLEOP was tested by evaluating the data already evaluated by an expert evaluator. The results of ESLEOP evaluation were compared to the expert evaluation in order to check its accuracy.
The evaluation of climate in nine meteorological stations in Peninsular Malaysia has been assessed [2] by methodology of combined limitation-parametric approach and the same data were used to evaluate with ESLEOP. The results showed that there was no difference in the suitability classification of actual and potential climate suitability classification of the nine regions obtained by using ESLEOP and by using manual method.
ESLEOP was also tested by using land characteristics and land qualities data of 45 land units for oil palm cultivation in Peninsular Malaysia [2]. Suitability evaluation with ESLEOP was carried out by using land characteristics and land qualities data [3, 4].
The results showed that there was no difference in the suitability classification of the land unit obtained by ESLEOP and the evaluation by using manual
method of calculation of data.
Fig. 10 Data entry and results for potential suitability classification of the land units for oil palm cultivation by using land qualities.
Fig. 11 Inference mechanism for evaluation of land qualities.
Fig. 12 Suitability classes for climate, land characteristics and land qualities.
3.5 Printing the Results
A hard copy of the results can be obtained by clicking File menu and select Print.
3.6 Saving the Work
To save changes to an existing work can by clicking File menu and select Save.
3.7 Quitting the Window Analysis and the Programme
To close the window analysis or to quit the programme is by clicking the button in the upper right corner of the window, next to minimize and maximize button. Software installation and system requirements are as in Help button of the programme.
4. Conclusion
The decision to computerise the methodology of land evaluation procedures are based on large amount of data collected during soil surveys which could be a possible constraint associated with conventional method of land evaluation for oil palm cultivation.
A window based and a user-friendly computer software package for PC was developed for land suitability evaluation for oil palm cultivation.
ESLEOP is able to print hardcopies of the evaluation of climate, land characteristics and land qualities inclusive of actual and potential suitability classification.
Users can with the aid of ESLEOP, evaluate land suitability for oil palm cultivation faster than with conventional method.
The programme is designed for use by nonprogrammers and may have commercial and research application.
The simplicity of the developed ESLEOP software is such that it is easily operated and it is also versatile because the end user has to key in the data in the appropriate column provided on the computer screen during the interaction with the system.
The methodology by which ESLEOP was developed was according to the FAO method of land evaluation. This shows that the FAO method of land evaluation for oil palm cultivation can be used in Peninsular Malaysia. This programme can reduce the problems facing by many land evaluators for oil palm cultivation in Malaysia and elsewhere.
Acknowledgments
This project was conducted at Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry and Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia. The authors thank the University for allowing them to use the facilities.
References
[1] A Framework for Land Evaluation, Soil Bulletin, FAO, Rome, Italy, 1976. p. 32.
[2] M.A. Adzemi, Development of land evaluation system for Elaeis guineensis Jacg. in peninsular Malaysia, Ph.D Thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor, Malaysia, 1999, p. 582.
[3] C. Sys, E. Van Ranst, J. Debaveye, Land Evaluation Part 1, Inter. Train. Centre for Post-Grad. Soil Scientist, State Univ. Ghent, Belgium, 1991, p. 274.
[4] A.O. Ogunkunle, Soil in land suitability evaluation: An example with oil palm in Nigeria, Soil Use and Management 9 (1993) 35-40.