Assessing the Impact of Water Harvesting Structures on the Vegetation Dynamics of a Rural Area Using Geospatial Technologies

Abstract. In the Molgi cluster of Nandurbar district, Maharashtra area prone to seasonal water scarcity-Jalkunds, small and cost-effective water harvesting structures, have been introduced to improve agricultural resilience. This study evaluates their impact on vegetation dynamics using geospatial technologies.

Landsat 8 satellite data were analysed using open-source geospatial technology, Google Earth Engine (GEE) to compute the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for various seasonal phases of 2022. NDVI, a key indicator of vegetation health, showed distinct seasonal trends. During the pre-monsoon period (January to April), values ranged from 0.15 to 0.18, indicating moderate vegetation. In the early monsoon period (May to August), NDVI declined sharply from 0.18 to 0.02, reflecting acute water stress. This period aligns with peak summer, when vegetation typically depends on residual moisture. The presence of Jalkunds likely mitigated the impact, preventing complete vegetation collapse by providing localized moisture retention, as seen in the slight NDVI recovery in August.

Post-monsoon (September to December), NDVI improved significantly, ranging from 0.18 to 0.40, with peak greenness observed in September-October. The annual average NDVI was 0.18, reflecting moderate vegetation with strong seasonal variation.