Multi-functionality and land use dynamics in a peri-urban environment influenced by wastewater irrigation. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jampani, Mahesh; Amerasinghe, Priyanie; Liedl, Rudolf; Locher-Krause, Karla; Hülsmann, Stephan
• Is Part Of: Sustainable cities and society. Volume 62(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Peri-urban agriculture -- Google Earth data -- Change detection -- Crop mapping -- Micro-level changes -- Land change modelling; Sustainable urban development -- Periodicals; Sustainable buildings -- Periodicals; Urban ecology (Sociology) -- Periodicals; 307.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102305
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2210-6707

Abstract

Highlights: Peri-urban agriculture is dependent on the wastewater from urban centres in the developing world. The spatio-temporal land use change patterns of the peri-urban watershed analyzed using Google Earth data. Water availability is the main factor that often decides the fate of peri-urban agriculture. New built-up areas are pushing the agricultural landscapes with urban pressures. New agricultural plots and built-up areas are being developed in the peri-urban barren lands. Abstract: Peri-urban areas are characterized by multifunctional land-use patterns forming a mosaic of built-up and agricultural areas. They are critical for providing food and other agricultural products, livelihood opportunities and multiple ecosystem services, which makes them transformative where urban and rural spaces blend. We analyzed land use changes in a peri-urban micro-watershed in Southern India by using Google Earth data to understand the micro-level spatio-temporal dynamics. This study aims at understanding the peri-urban agriculture and landscape changes as related to the change in use of wastewater and groundwater for irrigation. The temporal dynamics of peri-urban system including the changes in built-up, paragrass, paddy rice and vegetable cultivation, groundwater and wastewater irrigated areas in the watershed were evaluated. The detected changes indicate that, as a consequence of urban pressures, agricultural landscapes are being converted into built-up areas and, at the same time, former barren land is converted to agricultural plots. The mapped land use data are used in landscape change modelling for predicting the peri-urban agricultural dynamics and the driving factors in the watershed. Combined with the mapping and modelling approaches for land use change analysis, our results form the basis for integrated resources management in the wastewater influenced peri-urban systems.