MONITORING OF RICE CROP IN PUNJAB AND HARYANA WITH RESPECT TO RESIDUE BURNING

Abstract. This study is based on the fortnightly monitoring of residue burning in fields of kharif rice crops after harvesting in Punjab and Haryana. The kharif rice area (2018–19) was derived using multi-date Sentinel-1A(Microwave SAR) data under FASAL project. The expected harvesting dates of kharif rice (crop duration 140 days) are derived on the basis of transplanting dates (derived from SAR data), NDVI profiles and Ground truth data. Daily active crop fire events in Punjab and Haryana were taken from VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) product in the month of October and November 2018. It was observed from the study that the crop fire events showed a similar pattern as observed in expected harvest dates. Multi-date AWiFS data used to identify the crop residues- burnt areas during October and November 2018. The study reveals that maximum rice residue burning period is 2nd fortnight of October to 1st fortnight of November in both the states Punjab and Haryana. Maximum burning density was observed in the Mansa and Bhatinda district of Punjab and Fatehabad district of Haryana. In total 2.63 lakh ha burnt area was estimated in Haryana which is 20% of total kharif rice acreage while in Punjab it is 18.7 lakh ha (66% of total kharif rice acreage). Thus this study could show the relationship between the satellites derived harvesting dates and the spread of crop fire events. Monitoring of crop residue burning at regular intervals especially before each crop harvesting season to ensure effective implementation of proactive measures to curb the practice of burning of crop residue.