Evaluation of cropping calendar adherence on an irrigated lowland rice production area using remote sensing-derived aboveground biomass production

Water management and farming operations are inseparable endeavors in effective farming, particularly in irrigated rice schemes. The farmer's response to general protocols, such as the cropping calendar, greatly determines the effectiveness of existing farming protocols. This study was conducted solely to determine farmers' adherence to the proposed calendar, which is important for water and agricultural operations management. This study makes use of the AboveGround Biomass Production (AGBP) estimates derived from the water productivity framework algorithm based on the PySEBAL model. Landsat data and other remote sensing products were assimilated into the model. The model somehow underestimated the AGBP values due to cloud contamination. The AGBP values were valid in terms of AGBP progression, which represents the general phenology of irrigated rice planted over the area. This study found that the AGBP is highest during February and September (times when most of the area is between the late vegetative and the harvesting stage), and the low monthly AGBP values during April and May represent the transition period from dry to wet season, where the rice fields are generally harvested, hence the low AGBP values. The results support the conformity of MARIIS Division IV irrigation scheme to the general cropping calendar for the area, which implies that the farmers mainly support management recommendations and protocols.