Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Irrigation Practices and Cropping Pattern in Phaltan Tehsil

Abstract: This study assesses spatial and temporal changes in irrigation infrastructure and cropping patterns in Phaltan tehsil between 1991 and 2025 using remote-sensing and GIS techniques integrated with local agricultural and water-resource data. Multi-temporal satellite imagery, topographic maps, irrigation-department records, and field surveys were used to delineate landuse and land cover and to map irrigation sources. Image preprocessing, supervised classification and vegetation indices supported accurate detection of cropland and irrigation extent; post-classification change detection and landscape metrics quantified transitions. Spatial analysis in a GIS environment measured irrigation density, cropping intensity, and shifts in crop classes and related these to hydrogeological zones, proximity to irrigation infrastructure, and socio-institutional factors. The study provides geospatial evidence to inform integrated water-resource management and targeted agricultural policies in Phaltan tehsil, recommending precision irrigation, groundwater recharge measures, and crop diversification strategies to balance productivity and sustainability.