- English
The integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into environmental and agricultural research has transformed spatial
data acquisition, thereby offering exceptional precision and cost-effectiveness. This study demonstrates the application of
UAVs to assess Jhum cultivation in Khawrihnim village, Mamit district, India, responding to the increasing demand for
fine-scale, real-time spatial data in agriculture, water resources, and forest management in the region. UAVs facilitated in the
development of high-resolution land use-land cover (LULC) maps, showing that moderately dense forests covered the largest
portion of the area (38.37%), followed by current Jhum land (7.96%) and older Jhum land (5.71%). Digital elevation models
(DEMs) indicated that Jhum cultivation was predominantly concentrated at lower elevations (149–600 m). Soil nutrient
mapping using Kriging demonstrated key spatial trends, with nitrogen (N) increasing from hilltops to lower slopes, phosphorus
(P) concentrated on backslope areas, and potassium (K) in lower slopes. Site suitability analysis using multi-criteria
decision-making classified 18.97% of the area as very highly suitable for Jhum cultivation, with most zones in the northern
and northwestern regions. A significant advancement from this study is the development of the “Heliware” online portal,
which integrates UAV-derived data with advanced geospatial tools. The platform enables crop and soil nutrient mapping, 3D
visualization, hydrological modeling, and real-time scenario planning. The findings from this study, highlight the transformative
potential of UAVs and geospatial platforms for localized agricultural and environmental challenges, thereby offering
a replicable framework for precision agriculture and sustainable resource management. Future work should incorporate
advanced imaging techniques, machine learning algorithms, and long-term monitoring to enhance mapping accuracy and
decision-making capabilities.
- English
