Spatial Distribution Of Crop Rotation Using GIS And RemoteSensing Of Mansa District, Punjab (2024–25)

Abstract

 Agriculture in Punjab, India, plays an essential role in national food security, with the region contributing an important role in the country's wheat and rice production. Unsustainable crop rotation practices, groundwater depletion, and soil fertility loss have become major issues in recent years. The research focuses on mapping and assessing the spatial distribution of major crops such as cotton, paddy, wheat, and mustard, which shows the region’s double-cropping system. Unsupervised classification was carried out in ERDAS Imagine, and the classified outputs were further analyzed and mapped in ArcGIS 10.8 software. The study identifies that cotton and paddy are the major Kharif crops, while wheat and mustard dominate during the Rabi season. The crop rotation analysis shows a strong dependence on irrigation infrastructure, particularly canal and tube well systems, influencing the intensity and type of crop rotation. This study demonstrates the potential of remote sensing and GIS for monitoring crop dynamics, supporting sustainable land use planning, and aiding policymakers in improving agricultural resource management and soil health in Punjab’s semi-arid zones.