Geospatial Approach for Agriculture

                                                                                                                         – Booker T. Washington

 

Around 20,000 BC, man started eating wild grain and around 9500 BC, Neolithic founder crops were cultivated. Agriculture is not merely a source of livelihood but a way of life.

 

Following are the figures based on Global Hunger Index:

 

 

 

43 countries out of 117 have levels of hunger that remain serious. We need to focus more on current agriculture practices and need to work more on its sustainable development.

 

 

Food, fodder and fuel are the basic need for which agriculture is an essential practice. This is one of the prime occupation in India and many other countries. Agriculture is not only important from economic point of view but has deep rooted influence on our social, political and cultural life. Following are some important aspects:

 

 

 

This technology is about collection, analysis and interpretation of spatial data. This include GIS, GPS, remote sensing and all emerging geospatial technologies that assist in providing solutions. Following is a graphical representation of contribution of geospatial technology in agriculture.

 

 

With a variety of remote sensing data and advancement in the capabilities of sensors make it possible to process data and conduct an in-depth analysis and study of different types of soil and its components. Different parameters of soil that can be analysed using remote sensing are –

 

Mineralogy

Soil texture

Soil moisture

Soil organic carbon

Iron content

Soil salinity

Carbonates

Soil degradation and contamination

 

For a time period of more than two decades remote sensing and photogrammetry services are providing most accurate solutions in the field of agriculture. Geospatial technology along with information technology is becoming a robust and reliable tool for farm management. This ensure exactly what crops need for optimum health and productivity. Remote sensing devices take measurements throughout a field over time so that the grower can analyze conditions based on the data and take action that will have a positive influence on the harvest outcome.  For instance, sensors can serve as an early warning system allowing a grower to intervene, early on, to counter disease before it has had a chance to spread widely.

 

DEM is a bare earth model. This is very significant in agriculture practices. These models are helpful in the construction of terraces aiming to avoid erosion. DEM-based topography can be used to identify runoff-contributing areas and calculate slopes for use in field-runoff.

 

 

Remote Sensing (RS) has been used to classify and map land cover and land use changes with different techniques and data sets. such maps are useful in agriculture as well. Present use of land and the area covered by a type of land is used in planning of new agriculture land and assessment of currant farming situations. 

 

 

 

Agriculture is not merely a source of livelihood but a way of life. Agriculture is not only important from economic point of view but has deep rooted influence on our social, political and cultural life. GIS, remote sensing, photogrammetry, GPS along with other technologies are helpful in soil analysis, preparation of different vegetation indexes, DEM, LULC and many more. These tools are significant in modern agriculture and helping in promoting precise agriculture.