Application of GIS And RS in Agricultural Pattern Identification - A New Dimension for the Sustainable Utilization of Agricultural Resources

Abstract

Agriculture is a part of human evolution and survival on earth. Unavailability of water can be a major factor behind changes in agriculture patterns and distribution. Bundelkhand is a major drought-prone area in India that is suffering from the uneven trend of monsoon and major water scarcity every four years. Geographically the study area is a part of Bundelkhand massif. The area covers 728.78 sq km under the three tehsils of Shivpuri District comprises 72 villages for the past 16 years from 1989 to 2005. Given study is based on before and after the construction of Mohini reservoir on kali Sind River in Shivpuri district and its impact on agriculture pattern. Arc GIS and ERDAS Imagine s/w and Remote sensing Satellite data for various years opted for the purpose. Digitization, as well as supervised classification methods both, were used for the image interpretation. Contour, slope, DEM, Landuse/landcover, geology, geomorphology, Lineament, profile and soil maps were also generated to maintain the accuracy of the analysis. Data analysis with the help of tables, graphs and satellite image shows that agriculture has decreasing pattern even after the construction of the dam as a source of continuous water supply. Initially, it increased after the construction of the dam but due to uneven rainfall, it decreased. Total percent change classified into six classes from the base year 1989. Now it is easier to identify the water scarcity areas as well as change in agriculture patterns to suggest a better sustainable agriculture plan in any rainfed area to achieve the objective of the study.