Abstract:

Land is a finite and fundamental natural resource whose utilization reflects the interaction between physical conditions, population growth, agricultural development, urbanization, industrialization and environmental processes. Karnataka has experienced considerable changes in land-use patterns during the last decade as a result of agricultural intensification, expansion of settlements and infrastructure, changes in fallow land, forest conservation and increasing pressure on natural resources. The study focuses particularly on changes in forest area, land under non-agricultural uses, barren and uncultivable land, permanent pastures, culturable wasteland, fallow land and net area sown. The findings indicate that Karnataka’s land-use structure has undergone gradual but spatially differentiated transformation. In 2015–16, the state had a geographical area of approximately 190.5 lakh ha, with about 100.06 lakh ha under net area sown and 120.09 lakh ha under total cropped area. By 2021–22, the net area sown was reported at about 111.66 lakh ha in the national land-use classification.

The study examines land-use changes in Karnataka during 2016–17 to 2023–24 using statistical and trend analysis. The results show a clear shift towards agricultural intensification, with net area sown increasing by 8.58%, total cropped area by 14.31%, and area sown more than once by 43.66%, raising cropping intensity from 119.52% to 125.82%. In contrast, other fallow land declined by 69.57%, cultivable waste by 21.25%, and miscellaneous tree crops by 35.64%, while non-agricultural land increased by 5.22%. Trend analysis found significant changes in 10 of 12 categories, with total cropped area showing the strongest positive trend (3.649 lakh ha/year) and other fallow land the strongest negative trend (−1.786 lakh ha/year). Overall, Karnataka experienced increased agricultural utilisation, reduced fallow and wasteland, and growing non-agricultural land use, highlighting the need for sustainable land-use planning.

Keywords:

Land Use, Land Utilisation, Geo-Spatial Analysis, Trend Analysis, CAGR Analysis, Linear Trend Analysis, Forest, Fallow Land, Net Area Sown.

Aim/Objectives

Methods