Identification of the agricultural land conversion rate in Sleman regency using remote sensing

Abstract

Lack of information concerning the conversion rate of agricultural to non-agricultural land in the last decade has become an important issue in Sleman Regency. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in land use and the land conversion rates in five years for three periods of 1990-1995, 2000-2005, and 2010-2015. The study was conducted using descriptive methods which were analyzed spatially using Landsat imagery of 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. Identification of the land conversion rate covered 17 districts by comparing the land use classification data. The results showed that land use in Sleman Regency cover paddy fields, moorlands, yards, forests, barren land, and other land uses. The highest rate of land conversion occurs in groundwater bodies, paddy fields, and plantation area in different periods. The highest rate of land conversion in Sleman Regency in period 1 (1990-1995) was in paddy fields, which was 8,953.04 ha or 1,790.61 ha/year. In period 2 (2000-2005), the highest land conversion rate was in groundwater bodies, which was 3,471.44 ha or 694.29 ha/year. Meanwhile, in period 3 (2010-2015), the highest land conversion rate was in plantation areas, which was 7,767.33 ha or 1,553.47 ha/year.