1. Mapping Prosopis Juliflora, an exotic invasive species in semi-arid zone using machine learning: A case study in Hasanparthy village.
- Author
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Sivamurthy, Vinay, Bharath, Kolandasamy, Poongodi, and Palanisamy, Murthi
- Subjects
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ARID regions , *PROSOPIS juliflora , *MACHINE learning , *RENEWABLE energy sources , *ZONING , *SOIL erosion - Abstract
Prosopis Juliflora was introduced as a source of firewood due to its higher calorific value, drought tolerant capability, salt tolerance and superior rate of growth. The species was extensively used to reclaim wastelands. P.Juliflora is known for its ability to reduce soil erosion by stabilizing and binding soils, it acts as an effective windbreaker, and provides ecosystem services viz., nectar, fodder, fruit, and shelter for the faunal habitants. But being exotic, the species is continuously invading landscapes in the arid and semi-arid zone of India and across the globe, causing a negative impact on the ecosystem functions, soil moisture, micronutrients and ecosystem services. Being phreatophyte in nature, this invasive species draws water from the phreatic zones. This species is listed amongst the top 100 least wanted species by IUCN. The rampant and unabated growth of P.Juliflora is reducing the crop yield and abstracting larger quantities of phreatic water in the system. This necessitates accurate mapping of P.Juliflora and its extent of spread using geospatial technologies. In the current study, we use Sentinel 2 data obtained for the year 2022 and machine learning to identify the spatial distribution of P.Juliflora in Hasanparthy village and surrounding areas. The overall accuracy of the land use classification was over 90%, whereas mapping of P.Juliflora was found to have an accuracy of 68%. The study shows P.Juliflora is burgeoning across the study area. Within the study area, P.Juliflora in the study extent cover an area of 607 hectares encompassing 11.9% of study area. Upon maturing the energy potential of existing biomass P.Juliflora is about 374220 GJ. This indicates P.Juliflora can be an alternative energy source, while phase-wise extraction enables reduced load on the phreatic water content and nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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