Monitoring Land Use Dynamics and Agricultural Land Suitability in Samastipur District, Bihar Using Landsat Imagery and GIS

Abstract

This study investigates land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Samastipur District, Bihar, from 2000 to 2020 using Landsat data and GIS techniques. Our analysis reveals a significant increase in agricultural land from 64.24% to 84.80%, amounting to a rise of 59,615 ha. During the same period, natural vegetation decreased sharply from 20.76% to 3.19%, and water bodies diminished from 2.72% to 1.82%. Settlement areas expanded by 38.30%, while barren land was reduced by 44.65%. Accuracy assessments showed substantial agreement, with Kappa values improving from 0.64 in 2000 to 0.88 in 2020, and overall accuracy rising from 71.62% to 90.74%. The Productivity Rating Index (PRI) for Pusa Farm indicates high suitability for major crops, with PRI values of 82.90% for wheat, 106.57% for sugarcane, and 137.14% for paddy. These findings underscore the dynamic changes in land use and the effectiveness of remote sensing for monitoring and managing agricultural resources, providing valuable insights for sustainable land management and policy-making.