Evaluating agricultural drought severity in Karnataka, India through integrated remote sensing indices

Sawant, Sushant and Kukkemane, Shrikrishna (2024) Evaluating agricultural drought severity in Karnataka, India through integrated remote sensing indices. ECOCYCLES, 10 (2). pp. 128-143. ISSN 2416-2140

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Abstract

Agricultural drought significantly threatens Karnataka, India, where rain-fed agriculture is predominant. This study evaluates the spatio-temporal evolution of agricultural drought in Karnataka from 1986 to 2020 using the Advanced Drought Response Index (ADRI), which integrates the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), Precipitation Condition Index (PCI), Soil Condition Index (SCI), and Temperature Condition Index (TCI). Data from NOAA, TerraClimate, and NASA POWER were processed using ArcGIS Pro. Key findings reveal that northern districts like Vijayapura, Chitradurga, and Gadag consistently experienced severe drought conditions. ADRI values fell below 20 on a scale of 0–100, indicating a 35% lower ADRI than the state average. Drought severity increased by an average of 40% during the summer months compared to the monsoon season. The lowest annual average ADRI was recorded in 1986 at 22.41, signifying extreme drought, while the highest was in 1992 at 28.38, indicating milder conditions. An overall decline of 15% in Monsoon ADRI values over the 35 years suggests worsening drought conditions during this critical agricultural season. These findings reveal Karnataka's escalating agricultural vulnerability to climate variations. Pinpointing the regions and seasons that are most affected provides valuable insights for policymakers. Implementing targeted interventions—such as drought-resistant crops, efficient irrigation methods, and soil moisture conservation techniques—can enhance resilience and promote sustainable water management amid increasing climate challenges.

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