Characterization of Paddy Rice Planting Time and Its Temporal Variations Using Multi-Temporal MODIS Data

- A Case Study of Java Island, Indonesia -

Abstract

The author developed a method to estimate paddy rice planting time using multi-temporal MODIS data for a study site of Java Island, Indonesia, which was representative rice cultivation area in the Tropical Asian Region characterized by complex pattern of rice cropping. The method employed 16-day composite MODIS data product (MOD13Q1) and indices about surface conditions of vegetation and water obtained from the dataset. Time of planting paddy rice with temporal unit of 16 days was estimated from temporal changes of these indices for the period from April 2000 to December 2011. Estimated result showed good coincidence in time of planting with statistics data, but it also showed limitation of estimating precise acreage of planted rice due to coarse spatial resolution of data which was often mixed with other land use or different cropping pattern. The method developed in this study depicted clearly time and place of paddy rice planting for the first period starting after the end of dry season and for the second period in whole Java Island. The first period which was appeared in around December to January showed more yearly variation of planting time compared to the second period appeared in around March to April. This variation was discovered to have correlation with rainfall amount in late of dry season to early rainy season. Delay of paddy rice planting time was found to be associated with less amount of rainfall especially for areas of rainfed agriculture and lower part of irrigation networks.