Here the Land Capability for Agriculture Classification Ssytem (LCA) is described. The LCA classification is used to rank land on the basis of its potential productivity and cropping flexibility. This is determined by the extent to which the physical characteristics of the land (soil, climate and relief) impose long term restrictions on its use. The LCA is a seven class system. Four of the classes are further subdivided into divisions. Class 1 represents land that has the highest potential flexibility of use whereas Class 7 land is of very limited agricultural value.
The LCA classification is applied through a series of guidelines that allows a high degree of consistency of classification between users. The classification is based upon a number of assumptions. These specifically include the potential flexibility of cropping and agricultural options, assuming a high level of management. However they exclude other factors, such as distance to market and individual landowner choices, all of which can influence actual land use decisions.
The Land Capability for Agriculture Classification System (LCA) is a method rather than a model. It contains estimation of various constraints (such as climatic: Accumulated temperature and Maximum Potential Soil Moisture Deficits) that allows land areas to be classified based on their potential for agriculture.
The Land Capability for Agriculture Classification System (LCA) does not make simulations, rather it estimates a number of constraints on agriculture potential and collates these into 7 capability classes.
