MoU between PJTSAU and NRSC on 24-07-2021

Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Hyderabadand National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO have entered into aMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaborative research in estimation of evapotranspiration and soil moisture using geospatial technology and establishment of eddy covariance flux tower and soil moisture probes. The MoU was executed by Dr S Sudheer Kumar, Registrar, PJTSAU and Dr V Venkateshwar Rao, Deputy Director, NRSC, Hyderabad. MoU Papers were Exchanged by Dr Jagadeeshwar, Director of Research, PJTSAU and Dr Venkateshwar Rao, NRSC in the presence of Dr V Praveen Rao Vice Chancellor, PJTSAU. While speaking on this occasion Dr Praveen Rao, has told that, due to large scale irrigation projects taken up in the state there is tremendous increase of ground water in several basins in the state he added. There is a need to study on the status of ground water increase in the state under various basins and its utility for agriculture he said. He opined that, Telanganaku Haritha Haram program also contributed for increase of ground water. This effort is as part of National Hydrology Project (NHP), funded by Dept. of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakthi. Under NHP, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), as one of the Implementing Agencyis engaged with generation of geospatial products & services to support agriculture and water resources management and capacity building to NHP stakeholders.Evapotranspiration is a vital component of the hydrological cycle along with precipitation, runoff, seepage and sub-surface hydrology. It governs the water exchange between hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere and plays a major role in hydrology, meteorology and agriculture. Obtaining regional estimates of actual evapotranspiration in water-limited regions/river basins located at climatic transition zones is critical. Conventional techniques of estimating evapotranspiration are largely restricted to site measurements and are not suitable for obtaining regional estimates of evapotranspiration. As part of this project, NRSC is generating energy balance technique based actual evapotranspiration products using remote sensing data and soil moisture through hydrological model simulation.In order to validate these products, a comprehensive field-based instrumentation setup is planned to be installed across the country. The installed instrumentation setup will be used to take in-situ measurements required for Evapotranspiration and Soil Moisture products validation. Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University is facilitating the establishment of eddy covariance flux tower and soil moisture probes in their research station for validating these products. PJTSAU will also be conducting research in collaboration with NRSC to develop region specific water management strategies using geospatial technologies and field measurements. This is expected to improve the understanding of water consumption and lead to better water use efficiency in the state. University officers of PJTSAU and Scientists from NRSC were present in MoU signing program.