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.

Keywords: Spectral reflectance, Degraded lands, Spectroradiometer