Early estimation of rice area using temporal ERS-1 synthetic aperture radar data a case study for the Howrah and Hughly districts of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Abstract Abstract The characteristic temporal backscattering signature of rice crop grown under flooded condition was used to estimate rice acreage for a region in West Bengal, India. To date ERS-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, one acquired within 30 days of transplantation and another after 30-40 days was found to be optimum for early estimation of rice acreage. The rice crop was found to be distinctly separable from forest, tree vegetation, village/urban areas. Misclassification of rice was observed mainly with water, waterlogged areas and fallow fields.