Predicting agricultural drought in eastern Rajasthan of India using NDVI and standardized precipitation index

Abstract

In the present study, prediction of agricultural drought has been addressed through prediction of agricultural yield using a model based on NDVI-SPI. It has been observed that the meteorological drought index SPI with different timescale is correlated with NDVI at different lag. Also NDVI of current fortnight is correlated with NDVI of previous lags. Based on the correlation coefficients, the Multiple Regression Model was developed to predict NDVI. The NDVI of current fortnight was found highly correlated with SPI of previous fortnight in semi-arid and transitional zones. The correlation between NDVI and crop yield was observed highest in first fortnight of August. The RMSE of predicted yield in drought year was found to be about 17.07 kg/ha which was about 6.02 per cent of average yield. In normal year, it was 24 kg/Ha denoting about 2.1 per cent of average yield.

Keywords:

• predicted yield
• agricultural drought prediction
• NOAA-AVHRR NDVI
• SPI
• fortnight (biweekly)

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to Dr. V.K. Dhadwal, former dean, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (ISRO) for providing all required facilities during this study period.