Performance Evaluation of Pench Command Area of Maharashtra, India Using Spatial Approach

Scientific planning requires information about the irrigation projects. The surface water and groundwater sources support the irrigation purpose in India which requires regular monitoring to generate feedbacks regarding the optimum utilization of the water resources as well as the efficiency of the schemes. In this study, effect of irrigation has been evaluated based on variations in crop density in temporal and spatial scale from NDVI obtained from MODIS (moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer) for the years 2006–2016. For this study, Pench command area of Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra was digitized along with their canal network; LULC map was generated indicating agricultural lands. By using the NDVI images for the different seasons of cultivation, crop density was determined. The entire command area was classified into varying crop density classes. Area of coverage of each class was then studied and later correlated with the water released for irrigation through the canal system. The study corroborates the use of the spatial technologies of remote sensing and geographical information system for generating vital information required for command area performance evaluation and further organization of the information for futuristic management of the agricultural land and water resources.