Use of landsat thematic mapper and ancillary data in assessing potential areas for rainwater harvesting cropping systems
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Date
1997
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) is a system which can store and redistribute the moisture needed to enhance yields, in areas where rainfall distribution limit dryland crop production. In regions where rainfall is insufficient to produce’ even a minimum crop, water harvesting offers the potential to bring those areas under cultivation. However, in many areas,conventional planning data for selecting prospective sites for RWH cropping system is in most cases not easily available or not up to date. This study assess the possibility of using satellite images to improve and up-date the required data.This study used a nested procedure, combining a coverage of a small sample area by Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite imagery,conventional photo interpretation and analysis of
soil and topographic maps to identify potential areas for RWH cropping system. Computer pattern recognition techniques were used to discriminate soil information from the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite data on a sample area. Soil mapping units photo from a conventional soil
survey and aerial interpretation were matched to the spectral map for interpretation and classified soil description of the generated classes. Field investigations were done to confirr the results of the sample area which was then extended to <larger area by extrapolation using computer algorithms.Results shows ancillary data that can combination replace of Landsat extensive field
dataan< surveysij TM identifying suitable area for RWH especially where grounc truth is available and the landscape is sparsely vegetated.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Rain Water Harvesting, Dryland crop production, Landsat extensive field