Variation in irrigated agricultural areas in Bardarash District (2007-2024)

Abstract

This research will address the change in irrigated agricultural areas in Bardarash district for the period (2007-2024), relying on Landsat satellite imagery, using the United States Geological Survey (USGS) classification system, and employing spatial analysis. Modern techniques such as Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS Pro 3.4) will be utilized as effective and high-quality analytical tools for planners and decision-makers. Agricultural geography is one of the spatial sciences that has benefited from these techniques for spatial analysis and classification of agricultural land uses, as well as for handling and processing data, information, and maps with precision and efficiency, whether at the district, administrative unit, or agricultural sub-district level. The ultimate goal is to reveal the spatial change in irrigated agricultural land use in the study area during the specified period. This is also an essential and important requirement for development programs and for formulating appropriate policies to maximize the utilization of available resources, as it provides data on agricultural activity in the study area regarding growth trends and levels of progress, at a time when the world is struggling to increase production and overcome population growth. The research findings indicate a significant increase in irrigated agricultural areas in the study region in 2021 compared to other years within the study period. Consequently, the magnitude of change was positive, both at the district level, with a change of (11638.93), and at the administrative unit level, with a change of (11637.18), as well as at the agricultural sector level.