Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Assessment of land use and land cover (LULC) and land surface temperature (LST) dynamics with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) detection in the Ranganadi River Basin, Assam, Northeast India
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Borah Homen, Dutta Ranjit, Das Udipta, Patnaik Santanu Kumar
Research Articles | Published: 04 December, 2025
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Keywords: GIS, Remote sensing, Land use land cover, LST, NDVI
Abstract
This study explores land use and land cover (LULC) changes and observes the relationship between land surface temperature (LST) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the Ranganadi River Basin, Assam, Northeast India, over the period from 1989 to 2023. The basin is highly vulnerable to environmental degradation, however previous research on the area has failed to simultaneously analyze LULC, LST, and NDVI trends. GIS and remote sensing techniques were used to identify six LULC categories from Landsat-5 and Landsat-8 imagery: dense vegetation, sparse vegetation, agricultural land, water bodies, sand bars, and settlements. Between 1989 and 2023, the basin underwent significant land cover transformations. Water bodies declined from 12.36 to 7.71%, while agricultural land expanded from 18.94 to 24.45%. Sand bar areas increased in 2001 but subsequently reverted to their 1989 extent. Settlement areas rose from 30.71 to 32.03%, sparse vegetation decreased slightly, and dense vegetation declined markedly from 28.64 to 21.62%. NDVI values ranged from − 0.058 to 0.686, reflecting variations in vegetation cover. LST analysis revealed a pronounced warming trend, with values increasing from 3.93 to 27.18 °C and peaking between 18.4 and 27.18 °C in 2023. Between 2001 and 2023, the sharpest rise occurred largely motivated by urbanization, population growth, and climate change. The 2023 analysis shows a contrary LST–NDVI relationship, with cooler surfaces in areas of higher vegetation cover. This study provides valuable insights for environmentalists and land-use planners in promoting sustainable management of the Ranganadi River Basin.
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Author Information
Department of Botany, Madhabdev University, Lakhimpur, India