Suitability analysis for an agricultural complex development in Huangma township, Nanchang County, Jiangxi province, China
Existing suitability assessments for agricultural complexes lack fine-scale, objective, and integrated spatial analysis. For this suitability analysis, Huangma township in Nanchang, Jiangxi, was selected as the research area. A total of 13 villages and 2 communities under its jurisdiction were used as the basic units. A multidimensional evaluation index system was constructed, encompassing four dimensions—landscape suitability, rural suitability, facility convenience, and construction suitability—and incorporating 19 evaluation factors, including terrain features, proximity to water bodies, normalized difference vegetation index, historical and cultural resources, public service facilities, economic vitality, and population density. The study employed the hierarchical entropy weight method, which combines the analytic hierarchy process and the entropy weight method for index weighting. The weighted sum method and spatial overlay analysis, utilizing a geographic information system, were employed to derive the comprehensive suitability score. Results indicate that construction suitability is the primary factor influencing the site selection of the agricultural complex in Huangma, with economic vitality and power supply coverage having the highest weights. From the spatial pattern analysis, it was found that the areas with high suitability are concentrated in the northern and central parts of the township, while the southern area has low suitability due to weak infrastructure. Based on the comprehensive score, this study categorizes the research area into three types of regions: high-quality, potential, and weak, providing a scientific basis for future zoned development and differentiated guidance of the agricultural complex. This study not only provides methodological support for location selection and spatial planning in Huangma but also serves as a reference for other rural areas in China exploring sustainable development paths.
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