Vinay Prasad Mandal

Bio: Vinay Prasad Mandal is an academic researcher from Jamia Millia Islamia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Crop yield & Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 12 publications receiving 178 citations. Previous affiliations of Vinay Prasad Mandal include Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Rice Equivalent Crop Yield Assessment Using MODIS Sensors’ Based MOD13A1-NDVI Data

Abstract: This paper analyzes the site-specific infield fertilizer treatments, its application rate discrepancies and crop yield assessment using rice equivalent productivity in terms of their economic potential using MOD13A1-normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (a moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiomete derived 16 day composite normalized difference vegetation index product, with spatial resolution of 500 m). Soil quality and final crop yield response to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers were taken from selected experimental Agri-plots in the part of Kuru region in North India, to calculate site-specific rice equivalent yield (REY) in the crop year of 2005-2006. A 3 × 3 spatial window average pixel reflectance of the NDVI layer at the regional level was used to assess its relationship with contemporaneous cropping systems, such as rice-wheat, rice-sugarcane, and rice-onion in the study area. A robust linear regressive relationship of R 2 = 0.69, has been found between site-specific vegetation index values and calculated REY. Inverse distance weighted spatial interpolation method was used to analyze the spatial variability of three major fertilizer nutrients (NPK) response in the study area. The potassium nutrient availability showed high levels of spatial autocorrelation, suggesting that proper fertilizer application ratio with genuine irrigation practices may be used for underpinning of the high crop yield variety acreages. In order to strengthen the crop productivity, we have suggested the diversified triple-based cropping systems with satellite mounted sensor derived NDVI products as a holistic and feasible monitoring approach.

Prediction of spatial soil organic carbon distribution using Sentinel-2A and field inventory data in Sariska Tiger Reserve

Abstract: Dynamic and vigorous top soil is the source for healthy flora, fauna, and humans, and soil organic matters are the underpinning for healthy and productive soils. Organic components in the soil play significant role in stimulating soil productivity processes and vegetation development. This article deals with the scientific demand for estimating soil organic carbon (SOC) in forest using geospatial techniques. We assessed distribution of SOC using field and satellite data in Sariska Tiger Reserve located in the Aravalli Hill Range, India. This study utilized the visible and near-infrared reflectance data of Sentinel-2A satellite. Three predictor variables namely Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index, and Renormalized Difference Vegetation Index were derived to examine the relationship between soil and SOC and to identify the biophysical characteristic of soil. Relationship between SOC (ground and predicted) and leaf area index (LAI) measured through satellite data was examined through regression analysis. Coefficient of correlation (R 2) was found to be 0.95 (p value < 0.05) for predicted SOC and satellite measured LAI. Thus, LAI can effectively be used for extracting SOC using remote sensing data. Soil organic carbon stock map generated through Kriging model for Landsat 8 OLI data demonstrated variation in spatial SOC stocks distribution. The model with 89% accuracy has proved to be an effective tool for predicting spatial distribution of SOC stocks in the study area. Thus, optical remote sensing data have immense potential for predicting SOC at larger scale.

Land suitability assessment for optimal cropping sequences in Katihar district of Bihar, India using GIS and AHP

Abstract: The main objective of the study is to assess land suitability for suggesting suitable crop sequences in Katihar district of Bihar, India. We first selected site-specific factors and assigned their weights using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for land suitability assessment. The layers of factors were integrated to prepare land suitability map. The findings revealed that of the total area (3.05 million ha), the largest area (48.5%) was marginally suitable for agriculture followed by moderately suitable (30.8%) and highly suitable (2.9%). Nearly 17.8% area was found unsuitable for agriculture. Rice–maize–rice, rice–maize–jute and maize–maize–rice were found suitable crop sequences in all suitability classes. Multilinear regression analysis between land suitability and factors shows that soil texture, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, pH and drainage proximity influenced land suitability. The study suggested soil reclamation, application of adequate amount of fertilizers, assured irrigation and flood control for sustainable crop sequences in the study area. Land restoration and soil reclamation measures should be taken to transform unsuitable areas for crop cultivation. Use of integrated geographical information system and AHP approach for analyzing land suitability and crop sequences may add a new dimension in spatial information science.

Forestry applications of UAVs in Europe: a review

Abstract: Unfortunately, the fragmented regulations among EU countries, a result of the lack of common rules for operating UAVs in Europe, limit the chance to operate within Europe’s boundaries and prevent research mobility and exchange opportunities. Nevertheless, the applications of UAVs are expanding in different domains, and the use of UAVs in forestry will increase, possibly leading to a regular utilization for small-scale monitoring purposes in Europe when recent technologies i.e. hyperspectral imagery and lidar and methodological approaches will be consolidated.

The urban heat island

Abstract: We are all familiar with the fact that cities are generally warmer than the surrounding, more rural areas. We see it referenced most nights in our television weather reports. It is especially significant on nights with clear skies and light winds which favor radiational cooling. This is most significant in the rural areas but in the city, the excess heat absorbed during the day and the local heat sources maintain higher nighttime readings. During the days or nights with strong winds and clouds the differences are minimzed due to mixing and the advective cooling of the city by the winds.

Burning issues of paddy residue management in north-west states of India

Abstract: Disposal of paddy residue has turn out to be a huge problem in north-west Indian states, resulting farmers prefer to burn the residues in-situ. Paddy residue management is of utmost important as it contains plant nutrients and improves the soil-plant-atmospheric continuum. Burning biomass not only pollutes environment and results in loss of appreciable amount of plant essential nutrients. The objectives of the review paper is to access the amount of residue generation, its utilization in-situ and ex-situ, emphasize harmful effects of residue burning on human health, soil health and environment of north-west states of India specially in Punjab and Haryana. This paper also discusses the possible strategies, financial and socio-economic evaluation of the paddy residue management technologies and accentuates the assessment of range of potential policy instruments which would offer avenues for sustainable agriculture and environment. Timely availability of conservation agriculture (CA) machinery is of utmost significance to manage the paddy residues in-situ. Collection and transportation of voluminous mass of paddy residue is cumbersome, therefore, ex-situ residue management is still not an economically viable option. The agricultural waste opens vivid options for its versatile usage and is possible if residue is collected and managed properly. It is a prerequisite for surplus residues to be used for CA. There is an urge to create awareness among farming communities to incline them to understand importance of crop residues in CA for sustainability and resilience of Indian agriculture.