Wheat acreage estimation for Haryana using satellite digital data

This paper summarizes the procedures adopted and results obtained since 1985–86 for wheat inventory for Haryana using satellite digital data (MSS: 1985–86 to 1987–88, LISS-I: 1988–89 onwards). The approach followed is based on sample segments (10 × 10 km during 1985–86 to 1988–89, 7.5 × 7.5 km during 1989–90) and 10 percent sampling fraction and stratified sample design. There has been consistent improvement in accuracy over the years as judged from lower biases when compared with Bureau of Economics and Statistics (BES) acreage estimates and higher precision. In 1989–90, the state-level estimate achieved an accuracy goal of 90 percent at 90 percent confidence interval. A number of studies which have been carried out to study effect of choice of sensor, acquisition date, stratification approach, classification procedure on wheat inventory are also mentioned.     

Effect of acquisition date and TM spectral bands on wheat,mustard and gram classification accuracies

Single date classification accuracies of wheat, mustard and gram were investigated using TM data of five acquisition dates (January 24, February 9, 16,25 and March 12, 1988) and four band-combinations (TM 234 TM 345, TM 1234 and TM 2345) over an irrigated, optimum fertility site in Hisar (Haryana). Accuracies for wheat and gram were lowest on January 24 for all band-combinations and improved with later acquisitions. An interaction between acquisition date and band combination was apparent as accuracies with most optimal combinations remained high over the period from February 9 to March 12 ,while those with sub optimal combinations fluctuated widely from one date to another. The band-combinations which included middle-infrared (TM 2345 and TM 345) showed highest accuracies irrespective of crop and acquisition date while band combination of TM 234 consistently had lowest accuracies.     

Kharif rice acreage estimation in Orissa using NOAA-AVHRR data

Rice-acreage estimation of Orissa state was carried out using single-date NOAA-AVHRR data. Selection of optimum date of data acquisition for this purpose was studied using data of six acquisition dates viz. October, 3, 12, 21, 29, November 7 and 26, 1989. Comparative performance of MXL classification of two NOAA bands (Band-1: 0.58–0.68 μm and Band-2: 0.73–1.10 μm) and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from these two-band data was examined. Acreage thus estimated was compared against Bureau of Economics and Statistics (BES) estimate of the same year. The acreage estimation obtained by two band classification was closer to BES estimate than that based on NDVI. Data acquired in the month of October have given better estimate for state level rice acreage than that acquired in the month of November.     

X-ray crystallography of uraninites associated with the albitite belt of western India: Evidence for the high-temperature origin of uranium and associated mineralisation

X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies on the radioactive ore samples from various parts of Rajasthan and Haryana have revealed the presence of several uranium and other atomic mineral occurrences in the albitite belt of western India. The primary uranium minerals (PUMs) are uraninite and brannerite, whereas, the secondary uranium minerals (SUMs) show considerable speciations: phosphate, silicate, hydrous oxide hydrate, and vanadate. Multiple oxides (MOs) are davidite, fergusonite, aeschynite-(Y), microlite, samarskite, euxenite, betafite, and columbite-tantalite. The thorium minerals are huttonite, thorite, uranoan-thorite, thorianite, thorutite, and brabantite. The yttrium and REE-bearing minerals are xenotime, britholite, allanite, chevkinite, tritomite, and monazite. It is noted that the measured unit cell dimension (a₀) of the investigated uraninites ranges from 5.4110 Å to 5.4646 Å. The highest unit cell dimension (5.4646 Å) represents a composition (or oxidation grade) of UO_2.05, whereas, the lowest one (5.4110 Å) corresponds to a composition of UO_2.54. Furthermore, it is also apparent that, with increase in oxidation grade, there is a concomitant decrease in unit cell dimension. As most of the values of a_o of uraninites from the albitite belt are high (> 5.45 Å), it may be inferred that the overall temperature of formation of uraninites of the albitite belt was higher (ca. 400°C). However, the low values of a₀ in certain localities could be due to the prevalence of relatively low and fluctuating temperature regimes locally (ca. 400°–100° C). Numerous occurrences of refractory, multiple oxides, and REE minerals, in association with uranium mineralisation, also support a high-temperature origin for the investigated uraninites. Binary data plots of unit cell dimension (a₀) versus oxidation grade/composition (UO_2+x) of uraninites (n = 36) suggest that the gross uranium mineralisation in the albitite belt of western India is mainly linked to regional metamorphism, anatexis, granitic intrusion, metasomatism, and contact metamorphosed granite-pegmatite aureoles and granite-related vein type with hydrothermal overprints, including redistribution of intrinsic sedimentary uranium and its concentration along suitable structural locales. These interpretations are consistent with the known gross geologic features of the albitite belt. Furthermore, the presence of marialite (calcian) in many places in the albitite belt also supports such a contention, as this mineral is known to be restricted to metamorphic and metasomatic environments. The speciation of secondary uranium minerals could be due to the higher oxidation of U⁴⁺ to U⁶⁺ in surface to near-surface conditions and its (U⁶⁺) remobilisation as uranyl ions. The combination of moving uranyl ions with available cations and anions en route caused re-precipitation of U as diversified assemblages of low-temperature uranyl minerals under suitable physicochemical conditions.     

Characterization of agroecosystem based on land utilization indices using remote sensing and GIS

Information on various agricultural resource parameters at various levels is essential for proper management and efficient resource allocation for sustainable agricultural development. Limitations in ground-based method have encouraged the use of satellite data coupled with geographical information system (GIS) in providing spatial as well as temporal information over large and inaccessible areas. In the present study, an attempt has been made to generate raster maps using remote sensing and GIS techniques to characterize the agroecosystem of South 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal, based on land utilization indices. Information on multi-season landcover derived from the analysis of the multi-temporal RADARSAT-1 SAR and IRS-ID LISS III data as well as other ancillary information in GIS environment are the basic inputs used in the study. The present analysis shows that northern and northwestern parts are more diverse in terms of agricultural intensification as compared to the southern and northeastern parts whereas the central parts show moderate density. In terms of carrying capacity, the high carrying capacity has been observed in the southern to northeastern parts whereas the northwestern and central parts show moderate and northern parts show low carrying capacity. Overall, the characterization of agroecosystem using land utilization indices can be identified as major input to formulate a management plan for sustainable agriculture with concerns for the environment.     

Multiple forecasts of kharif rice in orissa state-four year experience of fasal pilot study

Considering the requirement of multiple pre-harvest crop forecasts, the concept of Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agrometeorology and Land based observations (FASAL) has been formulated. Development of procedure and demonstration of this technique for four in-season forecasts for kharif rice has been carried out as a pilot study in Orissa State since 1998. As the availability of cloud-free optical remote sensing data during kharif season is very poor for Orissa state, multi-date RADARSAT SCANSAR data were used for acreage estimation of kharif rice. Meteorological models have been developed for early assessment of acreage and prediction of yield at mid and late crop growth season. Four in-season forecasts were made during four kharif seasons (1998-2001); the first forecast of zone level rice acreage at the beginning of kharif crop season using meteorological models, second forecast of district level acreage at mid growth season using two-date RADARSAT SCANSAR data and yield using meteorological models, third forecast at late growth season of district level acreage using three-date RADARSAT SCANSAR data and yield using meteorological models and revised forecast incorporating field observations at maturity. The results of multiple forecasts have shown rice acreage estimation and yield prediction with deviation up to 14 and 11 per cent respectively. This study has demonstrated the potential of FASAL concept to provide inseason multiple forecasts using data of remote sensing, meteorology and land based observations.     

Spectral characteristics of sensors onboard IRS-1D and P6 satellites: Estimation and their influence on surface reflectance and NDVI

This paper reports the results of a modeling study carried out with two objectives, (1) to estimate and compare effective spectral characteristics (central wavelength, bandwidth and bandpass exo-atmospheric solar irradiance E_o) of various spectral channels of LISS-III, WiFS, LISS-III*, LISS-IV and AWiFS onboard Indian Remote Sensing Satellites IRS-ID and P6 using moment method based on the laboratory measurements of sensor spectral response, and (2) to quantify the influence of varying sensor spectral response on reflectance and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measurements using surface reflectance spectra corresponding to different leaf area index conditions of crop target obtained through field experiment. Significant deviation of 4 to 14 nm in central wavelength and 1.6 to 14.07 nm in spectral width was observed for the corresponding channel of IRS sensors. Coefficient of variation of the order of 0.1 to 1.11% was noticed in E_o among various IRS sensors, which could induce a difference of 0.72 to 3.35% in the estimation of top of atmosphere reflectance for crop target. The variation in spectral response of IRS sensors implied a relative difference of the order of 0.91 to 3.38% in surface reflectance and NDVI measurements. Polynomial approximations are also provided for spectral correction that can be utilized for normalizing the artifacts introduced due to differences in spectral characteristics among IRS sensors.     

Interpretation of aero-magnetic data and satellite imagery to delineate structure — a case study for uranium exploration from Gwalior Basin,India

The Paleo-Meso Proterozoic Gwalior basin (E - W), lying to NW fringe of Bundelkhand massif is represented by litho-package of lower arenaceous Par Formation and upper chemogenic Morar Formation. It is bounded by Indo-Gangetic alluvium in north and east, Kaimur sediments in west and Bundelkhand granitoids in south. Gwalior Basin has been the exploration target for uranium mineralization right from early 60’s. Surface radioactivity anomalies due to uranium has been reported in both Par and Morar Formations of Gwalior Group and Vindhyan sediments. Besides presence of syngenetic uranium in the system, presence of post-depositional faults and fractures are the favorable factors. Aeromagnetic survey was carried out by AMD in 2002 with N-S lines of 500 m interval covering 9406 line km. The data with sampling interval of 0.1 sec was corrected for spikes, diurnal variation, IGRF, heading and lag. Final processed images are prepared after suitable leveling and gridding. First vertical derivative of TMI-RTP and tilt-angle derivative images are used to map the litho-contacts, lineaments and structural features. Numerous NE-SW trending low amplitude and NW-SE trending high amplitude magnetic linears corroborate with quartz reefs and basic dykes respectively. Besides, E-W to WNW-ESE and ENE-WSW trending fractures are also evident from the processed image maps. Further, the Euler’s depth solution of gridded aeromagnetic data calculated for structural indices of 0 and 1 are very consistent in locating the position of the causative sources. Based on the amplitude and textural character of processed aeromagnetic data, alteration zone is delineated well within the Morar Formation. Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) image with 30m resolution was merged with IRS PAN 1D (5.8 m resolution) for better spatial/radiometric resolution to extract litho-contacts and lineament patterns. Merged PAN band-4 after linear contrast and edge enhancement techniques deciphered detailed lineament pattern, which corroborate the magnetic data. Merged ETM+ (RGB 751) and PC (PC1-PC2-PC5) images depict litho-logical contrast. Integration of aeromagnetic and satellite imagery data helped in understanding the structural fabric of the Gwalior Basin and to identify favorable loci of uranium mineralization.     

A new occurrence of thorianite from syenitic pegmatite near Bhaluchuan,Odisha

We report a new occurrence of thorianite from syenitic pegmatite near Bhaluchuan, Sambalpur district, Odisha. The thorianite is brown to deep-brown with round grains of 2 to 10 mm size. The chemical analysis of the investigated thorianite reveals 64.8% ThO₂, 25% U₃O₈, 3.81% PbO and 1.7% Fe₂O₃. Calculated structural formula of the thorianite is (Th⁺⁴ _0.61U⁺⁴ _0.14U⁺⁶ _0.08ΣREE⁺³ _0.017Pb⁺² _0.04Ca⁺² _0.01Mn⁺² _0.001Fe⁺³ _0.05Al⁺³ _0.003Sc⁺² _0.002K⁺¹ _0.005Na⁺¹ _0.008 Si⁺⁴ _0.04Ti⁺⁴ _0.02)O_2.08. Chondrite-normalised rare-earth element (REE) plot of the thorianite reveals enrichment of light REE (LREE) over heavy REE (HREE) with pronounced negative Eu-anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.35). The (ΣLREE/ΣHREE)_N ratio is perceptibly high (2.76). The (La/Lu)_N (42.31), (La/Yb)_N (27.49) and (Ce/Yb)_N (21.58) ratios are also very high. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the investigated thorianite displays sharply-defined reflections. Corresponding interplanar spacings (d-spacings) of all the reflections are in very close agreement with those published for thorianite standard in International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) Card No. 4-556. However, I/Io of two reflections (1.9694Å and 1.6787Å) are lower than those published for thorianite standard. The unit cell parameter (a_o) of the investigated thorianite (a_o 5.5750Å) is also less than a_o of thorianite standard (a_o 5.6000Å and V 175.62ų), which is because of extensive substitution of Th by U.