Rice-Fallow Targeting for Cropping Intensification through Geospatial Technologies in the Rice Belt of Northeast India

Amit Kumar Srivastava (), Suranjana Bhaswati Borah, Payel Ghosh Dastidar, Archita Sharma, Debabrat Gogoi, Priyanuz Goswami, Giti Deka, Suryakanta Khandai, Rupam Borgohain, Sudhanshu Singh and Ashok Bhattacharyya
Additional contact information
Amit Kumar Srivastava: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Centre (SARC), NSRTC Campus, G. T. Road, Collectory Farm, P.O. Industrial Estate, Varanasi 221006, India
Suranjana Bhaswati Borah: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 5th Floor, Nayantara Building, G.S. Road, Sixmile, Guwahati 781011, India
Payel Ghosh Dastidar: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Centre (SARC), NSRTC Campus, G. T. Road, Collectory Farm, P.O. Industrial Estate, Varanasi 221006, India
Archita Sharma: Directorate of Research (Agri.), Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Barbheta, Jorhat 785013, India
Debabrat Gogoi: Directorate of Research (Agri.), Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Barbheta, Jorhat 785013, India
Priyanuz Goswami: Directorate of Research (Agri.), Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Barbheta, Jorhat 785013, India
Giti Deka: Directorate of Research (Agri.), Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Barbheta, Jorhat 785013, India
Suryakanta Khandai: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 5th Floor, Nayantara Building, G.S. Road, Sixmile, Guwahati 781011, India
Rupam Borgohain: Directorate of Research (Agri.), Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Barbheta, Jorhat 785013, India
Sudhanshu Singh: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Centre (SARC), NSRTC Campus, G. T. Road, Collectory Farm, P.O. Industrial Estate, Varanasi 221006, India
Ashok Bhattacharyya: Directorate of Research (Agri.), Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Barbheta, Jorhat 785013, India

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: Rice-fallow areas have significant potential to sustainably increase agricultural intensification to address growing global food demands while simultaneously increasing farmers’ income by harnessing the residual soil moisture in rainfed ecologies. Assam is the largest rice-growing belt in northeast India during kharif ; however, for the next rabi season, an average of 58% of the rice areas remain uncultivated and are described as rice-fallow ( Kharif , rabi and zaid are the crop seasons in the study area. The kharif season refers to the monsoon/rainy season and corresponds to the major crop season in the region extending from June to October. The rabi season refers to the winter season extending from November to April, and the zaid season is the summer crop season from April to June). Unutilized rice-fallow areas with optimum soil moisture for a second crop were identified over three consecutive years using multiple satellite data (optical and radar) for the state of Assam and an average accuracy of 92.6%. The reasons governing the existence of rice-fallow areas were analyzed, and an average of 0.88 million ha of suitable rice-fallow areas, based on soil moisture availability, were identified. Targeted interventions were carried out in selected locations to demonstrate the potential of sustainable cropping intensification. Maize, with best management practices, and a yield between 5.5 and 6 t/ha, was demonstrated as a successful second crop during the rabi season in selected areas with optimum residual soil moisture after the kharif paddy harvest. This study highlights the significance of geospatial technology to effectively identify and target suitable rice-fallow areas for cropping intensification and to enhance productivity and profitability.

Keywords: crop intensification; soil moisture; maize; Sentinel; Landsat; GEE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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