Development of Spectral Index for Discriminating
Degraded Lands
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Author:Balaji Kannan , R. Krishnan , R. Jagadeeswaran, K.P. Ragunath and R. Kumaraperumal
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:102, Issue:jan-mar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.001074
Abstract
A study was conducted to characterize the spectral variability of degraded lands in Agro
Ecological Zone 4.1 of Tamil Nadu uplands and to develop spectral indices to distinguish
stages of land degradation. In this study, Spectroradiometer GER 1500 was used for recording
the spectral reflectance values of degraded lands from 400 to 1050 nm in various locations
representing different types of degraded lands in the study area. A spectral index was
identified for discriminating different levels of land degradation. Among the locations, the
degraded status of lands was found to be of four different categories, viz., waste lands –
open scrub, dense scrub, and slightly salt affected and moderately salt affected. It was
observed that there is a difference between spectral reflectance values and various levels of
degraded lands. It was also observed that the ratio of reflectance at 760 and 675 nm has given
a better difference in the determination of various types of degraded lands.
Key words : Spectral reflectance, Degraded lands, Spectroradiometer