Modeling and Assessment of Land Degradation Vulnerability in Arid Ecosystem of Rajasthan Using Analytical Hierarchy Process and Geospatial Techniques

Brijesh Yadav (), Lal Chand Malav, Raimundo Jiménez-Ballesta, Chiranjeev Kumawat (), Abhik Patra, Abhishek Patel, Abhishek Jangir, Mahaveer Nogiya, Roshan Lal Meena, Pravash Chandra Moharana, Nirmal Kumar, Ram Prasad Sharma, Lala Ram Yadav, Gangalakunta P. Obi Reddy and Banshi Lal Mina
Additional contact information
Brijesh Yadav: ICAR—National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Regional Center, Udaipur 313001, India
Lal Chand Malav: ICAR—National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Regional Center, Udaipur 313001, India
Raimundo Jiménez-Ballesta: Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Chiranjeev Kumawat: Sri Karan Narendra College of Agriculture, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur 303329, India
Abhik Patra: Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
Abhishek Patel: ICAR—Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Bhuj 370105, India
Abhishek Jangir: ICAR—National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Regional Center, Udaipur 313001, India
Mahaveer Nogiya: ICAR—National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Regional Center, Udaipur 313001, India
Roshan Lal Meena: ICAR—National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Regional Center, Udaipur 313001, India
Pravash Chandra Moharana: ICAR—National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Nagpur 440033, India
Nirmal Kumar: ICAR—National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Nagpur 440033, India
Ram Prasad Sharma: ICAR—National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Regional Center, Udaipur 313001, India
Lala Ram Yadav: Sri Karan Narendra College of Agriculture, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur 303329, India
Gangalakunta P. Obi Reddy: ICAR—National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Nagpur 440033, India
Banshi Lal Mina: ICAR—National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Regional Center, Udaipur 313001, India

Land, 2022, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Wind erosion is a major natural disaster worldwide, and it is a key problem in western Rajasthan in India. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), the Geographic Information System (GIS), and remote sensing satellite images are effective tools for modeling and risk assessment of land degradation. The present study aimed to assess and model the land degradation vulnerable (LDV) zones based on the AHP and geospatial techniques in the Luni River basin in Rajasthan, India. This study was carried out by examining important thematic layers, such as vegetation parameters (normalized difference vegetation index and land use/land cover), a terrain parameter (slope), climatic parameters (mean annual rainfall and land surface temperature), and soil parameters (soil organic carbon, soil erosion, soil texture, and soil depth), using the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and geospatial techniques in the Luni River basin in Rajasthan, India. The weights derived for the thematic layers using AHP were as follows: NDVI (0.27) > MAR (0.22) > LST (0.15) > soil erosion (0.12) > slope (0.08) > LULC (0.06) > SOC (0.04) > soil texture (0.03) > soil depth (0.02). The result indicates that nearly 21.4 % of the total area is prone to very high degradation risks; 12.3% is prone to high risks; and 16%, 24.3%, and 26% are prone to moderate, low, and very low risks, respectively. The validation of LDV was carried out using high-resolution Google Earth images and field photographs. Additionally, the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve found an area under the curve (AUC) value of 82%, approving the prediction accuracy of the AHP technique in the study area. This study contributes by providing a better understanding of land degradation neutrality and sustainable soil and water management practices in the river basin.

Keywords: analytical hierarchical process; GIS; Google Earth imageries; land degradation; Luni River basin; remote sensing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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