Monitoring of vegetation changes (Pistachio gardens) using decision tree processing of multi-spectral satellite images, Case study: Anar city (Kerman province)

The Anar city is one of the main Pistachio producer in Kerman province and the whole of Iran. In recent years, the level of cultivation of pistachio gardens has increased in this area without any plans, As a result, it has caused a lot of damage to water resources. And then many gardens will be destroyed. In this research, attempts have been made to monitor the trend of pistachio crop cultivation in this area over a 40-year period. For this purpose, Landsat satellite images of 6 different periods between 1354 and 1396 were used. So, by applying the vegetation index (NDVI) on the images and using the Decision tree classification methodology, vegetation maps of the region, which include two classes of agricultural land, namely pistachio gardens and natural lands or rangelands, were prepared. Then, the rate of change during different periods was determined using the comparison method after classification. The results showed that vegetation changes over 40 years have been high for the studied area, so that the highest growth rate of pistachio gardens occurred during the years 1366 to 1375. And has only reached 15548,8 hectares over the course of 9 years from 7058.25 hectares. Also, during the years 1380 to 1389, the greatest reduction and destruction of pistachio gardens occurred at 2902.05 hectares. The evidence suggests that the process of reducing and destroying pistachio gardens is continuing intensively due to the unplanned withdrawal of groundwater resources in the central and southern parts of the Anar plain.