SITE CHARACTERIZATION

and SELECTION
Procedure: Site Characterization
1. Set objectives
• Identification of factors that may influence (favor or
hinder) the successful production of the identified
crops

• Assessment the site suitability or crop suitability

• Analysis of possible site-crop enterprise relationships

• Formulation of farm plan --- steps, measures and

requirements to implement the plan

• Preparation of farm sketch --- show present and future

scenarios based on the site analysis and evaluation

2. Characterize the bio-physical environment

3. Characterize socioeconomic environment
 Input for Site Evaluation

• Results of site characterization

serve as an input to site
evaluation

• Relationships among factors

analyzed, evaluated and rated for site’s
suitability to the identified crop, or the
chosen crop’s suitability to the given
site
 Input for Site Evaluation

• Crop-environment matching based on

scores assigned to certain factors and
judging the suitability

• Determination of the land’s capability

based on certain factors and their
combination relative to a pre-determined
scale of land capabilities

• Identification of critical factors and their

possible influences on the proposed crop
production enterprise
 Components of a Farm Plan

• A map showing the land allocation for

chosen crop/s

• Recommended planting scheme and

cropping pattern

• Timeline or schedule of activities

• Budget scheme for the material/input
requirements

• Forecasts of critical factors or potential

problems during implementation
Site Selection for Crop Production
Matching the crop with the location/site for crop production

KNOW THE CROP KNOW THE SITE

About the Crop About the Site

• Climatic Requirements • Climate
• Soil Requirements • Soil
• Biological Considerations • Physical
• Socioeconomic/Cultural • Biological
Considerations • Socioeconomic Conditions
• Environmental Concerns • Other Constraints
• Other Special Requirements

Cropping Purpose and Intensity

Climatic Requirement Soil Requirement
9 Temperature 9 pH
9 Water 9 Soil fertility
9 Light 9 Adaptation to soil problems
9 Wind 9 Texture

Biological Considerations
9 Pest/disease resistance/susceptibility
9 Suited cropping pattern

Socioeconomic/Cultural Considerations
9 Labor requirement
9 Production volume

Environmental Concerns Other Special Requirements

9 Pesticide use 9 Postharvest activities
9 Residue/waste recycling 9 Processing requirement
Climate Soil
9Diurnal/Seasonal fluctuations in temperature 9 Soil fertility status
9Rainfall pattern and distribution 9 Soil texture
9Typhoon frequency 9 Soil pH
9Wind movement and velocity 9 Soil depth

Physical Biological
9 Water resources 9 Presence of pests and diseases
9 Drainage 9 Existing cropping patterns/farming system
9 Slope 9 Production practices in the area
9 Historical changes in cropping

Socioeconomic
9 Labor/skills availability
9 Available infrastructures related to CP Other Constraints to
9 Nearness to market and urban areas Productivity
9 Supply and demand --- community preference
9 Tenurial situation/landholdings
 Thank You

SITE CHARACTERIZATION
and SELECTION