Aim: This study was taken up to investigate the usefulness of Remote Sensing & GIS tools for the evaluation of fourteen watershed projects implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) project in the Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted by Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department, Andhra Pradesh2009 to 2022. Methodology: Remote Sensing based methodology is adopted through temporal satellite data for monitoring the watersheds. This research study was investigated using high-resolution data like Resourcesat-2, and LISS-IV of 2011 (pre-treatment) and 2016 (post-treatment)to assess the changes in land use/land cover and biomass that have changed within a period of five years (2011-16). Results: There is a significant reduction in fallow land area from 31727 ha to 23893 ha, which is attributed to dense and open vegetation categories in 2016. The output of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index classification indicates the increase in dense vegetation from 16955 ha to 23256 ha, which indicates there is an improvement in the open vegetation category due to the reclamation of fallow land. Conclusion: This study reveals that an additional area of 419ha (07.53%) increased under water bodies and 2792ha of wasteland converted to cultivable land due to the construction of farm ponds, percolation tanks and check dams. This area is attributed to cropland and plantations.

The current study was taken up to investigate the utility of the Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools for evaluation of 13 Integrated Watershed Development Programme watershed projects implemented during 2009-2016 in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh. The study was carried out using high resolution Resourcesat-2, Linear Imaging self-Scanning System (LISS)-IV data of 2011 (pre-treatment) and 2016 (post-treatment) to assess the changes in land use/land cover and biomass over a period of five years (2011-16). Due to implementation of the watershed developmental activities, an additional area of 15100 ha has been brought under cultivation. The vegetation maps indicated that 20531 ha of fallow land converted to dense (9533 ha) and open vegetation (10249) categories during the project period due to the adoption of soil and water conservation practices. An additional area of 280 ha (5.72%) increased under water bodies and 1352 ha waste land converted to cultivable land due to construction of farm ponds, percolation tanks and check dams. This area is attributed to cropland and plantations in the year 2016.

The soil samples at 0-30 cm and sub-surface 30-60 cm from fifty sweet orange orchards aged between 12 to 13 years were collected and analysed to know the nutrient status of orchards in YSR district of Andhra Pradesh. The results showed that, about 82 per cent of soils were deficient in available nitrogen and 20 per cent in available phosphorus, however, 68 per cent of samples were high in available potassium. Though these samples had adequate exchangeable calcium and magnesium but were low in DTPA- Fe (24%) and Zn (78%).

Aim: This Investigation was taken up to detect the changes in the Bio-Physical Indicators of Polla Watershed project implemented under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) watershed project in Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh, India. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Polla watershed area of Seetham pet mandal of Srikakulam District, which is under drought Prone Area Project (DPAP) by the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (PR and RD) Department, Andhra Pradesh during 2013 to 2020. Methodology: High-resolution satellite data like Resourcesat-2, Linear Imaging and Self Scanning-IV (LISS-IV) of 2013 (pre-treatment) and 2020 (post-treatment) and ArcGIS 10.8 software were used in this project to measure the changes in land use/land cover and biomass during the project period (2013-20). Result: The results showed a reduction in wastelands by 59.67% (786.59 ha) and an increase in cropland and plantation by 32.68% (756.34ha) and 2.16% (24.55ha) respectively. There is an increase in dense vegetation 49.36 ha (3.93 %), medium vegetation412.04ha (28.36 %), Low Vegetation 247.93ha (19.25 %) and a decrease in nil vegetation 709.33 ha (-57.99 %). Another positive indicator of watershed development in the project area is the increase in waterbodies by 17.10 %, due to the construction of rainwater harvesting structures i.e., 21 percolation tanks, 10 rockfill dams,18 loose boulder structures, 19 Mini Percolation Tanks etc. Conclusion: This study reveals that an additional area of 5.69ha (17.10%) increased under water bodies and 786.59 ha of wasteland converted to cultivable land due to the construction of rockfill dams, percolation tanks, mini percolation tanks, check walls and loose boulder structures. This area is reflected in cropland and plantations.

The present study was conducted to know the effect of leaf nutrient status on fruit yield and quality of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) in YSR district of Andhra Pradesh, India. In this investigation fifty sweet orange orchards aged between 12 to 13 years were selected and plant samples such as index leaves and matured fruits were collected from 10 per cent of plants in each orchard. Leaf Zn deficiency (62%) was the most severe among the 10 mineral elements tested and followed by Fe (54%), Mn (52%) and Cu (26%). Fruit yield showed significant positive correlation with leaf N (r =0.519**) and P (r =0.409**). Fruit weight had significant positive correlation with leaf Nitrogen (r = 0.469**), Phosphorus (r = 0.446**) and Potassium (r = 0.415**). Fruit juice percent was significantly and positively correlated with leaf N (r =0.353**) and P (r =0.364**). Titrable acidity had significant negative correlation with leaf Fe (r = -0.371**) and leaf Mn (r = -0.292*). Total Soluble Solids (TSS) showed a significant positive relation with leaf P (r = 0.438**) and significant negative correlation with leaf Mn (r = -0.311*). Vitamin C content of the sweet orange fruit had significant positive correlation with leaf N (r = 0.437**), P (r = 0.516**) and K (r = 0.398**).