Agro-Climatic Zonation for Optimizing Cropping Systems in Hilly Regions Using Remote Sensing

Abstract

How should hilly landscapes be divided to match each parcel with the crop best suited to its microclimate? This research combined Landsat 8/9 NDVI time series, SRTM terrain data, and 30-year climate records to delineate four agro-climatic zones in the hilly Tamba Highlands of Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. K-means clustering separated 1,247 grid cells (250 m resolution) into valley, mid-slope, ridge, and summit zones. A crop suitability index (CSI) combining rainfall reliability, thermal supply, and slope was computed for each zone. Observed rice and wheat yields correlated strongly with CSI (R² = 0.91). Valley zones supported the widest crop portfolio (rice, vegetables, wheat), while summit zones were marginal for annual crops and better suited to pasture or agroforestry.