ABSTRACT
366Earth observation driven ecosystem modeling have played a major role in the estimation of carbon budget component as gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary production (NPP) over terrestrial ecosystem, including agriculture. The quantification of regional contribution from different agroecosystems is necessary for the estimation of total carbon budget. The present study aim to assess seasonal and interannual dynamics of gross primary productivity in semi arid agricultural region of central India using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 8-day data. Vidarbha lies between 17°57ʹ - 21°46ʹ N latitude and 75°57ʹ - 80°59ʹ E longitude. It covers an area of 98 lakh ha, accounting for 32% area of Maharashtra State. MODIS satellite data during the period of 2009 to 2013 have been used in the present study. Result shows that the annual GPP was found highest during 2011 (1.64 kg C m−2 year−1) followed by 2013 (1.57 kg C m−2 year−1), 2010 (1.52 kg C m−2 year−1), 2012 (1.42 kg C m−2 year−1) and 2009 (1.34 kg C m−2 year−1) in Vidarbha region. The average GPP of five years ranged from 0 to 1.47 kg C m−2, which is at par with the range reported for Indian region (0.2 to 1.5 kg C m−2). Average highest GPP was observed in the month of September during 2009–2013. Achalpur and Chandur Bazar taluka of Amravati, Ralegaon taluka of Yavatmal and Selu taluka of Wardha district are more productive in Vidarbha region in terms of GPP. The distribution of GPP was between 0.015–0.029, 0.010–0.023 and 0.000–0.005 kg C m−2 during kharif (July– October), rabi (November–February) and zaid (March–May), respectively in most of the districts of Vidarbha.
