Now Reading: ISRO study maps Andhra soil health with satellite AI
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ISRO study maps Andhra soil health with satellite AI
An ISRO-National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) study has used satellite imagery and machine learning to map soil health in Andhra Pradesh's Indukurpet mandal. The researchers combined Landsat-8 data with 175 field samples…
The Story in Brief
An ISRO-National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) study has used satellite imagery and machine learning to map soil health in Andhra Pradesh's Indukurpet mandal. The researchers combined Landsat-8 data with 175 field samples to predict soil pH and salinity, producing digital maps that highlight small patches often missed by traditional sampling.
The study, published online in Environmental Earth Sciences on June 15, 2026, found that Random Forest and Gradient Boosting Regression were the most accurate models. The method offers a cost-effective way to guide targeted soil testing and fertiliser decisions, especially for salinity-sensitive crops like paddy.
The Indian Opinion
The hype around AI in farming often promises instant fixes, but this ISRO study shows what real work looks like: 175 soil samples, six spectral bands, and careful validation. The maps guide field testing, not replace it. A cheaper, smarter survey is welcome, but the value hinges on whether states actually use it. Watch if Andhra's agriculture department shifts more sampling to high-uncertainty zones flagged by the study. That will separate a useful tool from another research paper gathering dust.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
