• Energy Research

Mango is widely known as a popular fruit in South Asia, including Bangladesh. The country is a significant producer of different local and exotic varieties of mangoes in different geographic locations. Therefore, a study of fruit maturity at diverse locations and climatic conditions becomes critical for a sustainable mango production. In responding to this need, this study evaluates the variability of a few selected commercial mango (Mangifera indica L.) varieties and their maturity timeline with respect to spatial extent (longitudinal-latitudinal variations), elevation profile, and time. Remote sensing technology has been widely used for horticultural applications to study fruit phenology, maturity, harvesting time, and for mapping locational differences. In doing so, we have employed remotely sensed data, such as the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM) of 30 m spatial resolution, GPM IMERGM precipitation datasets (0.1 × 0.1 degree), NASA GLDAS (Global Land Data Assimilation System) surface skin temperature (0.25 × 0.25 degree), and Noah Land Surface Model L4 3-hourly soil moisture content datasets (0.25 × 0.25 degree). Alongside these, an intensive field data collection campaign has been carried out for 2019 and 2020. It was found that 1° locational variations may result in approximately 2–5 days delay of mango harvesting. The outcome of this study may enhance the appropriate planning of harvesting, production, and the commercialization of mango selection in specific geographic setting for a sustainable harvest and production system in the country.

The spatiotemporal variability of vegetation in the Middle East was investigated for the period 2001–2019 using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 16-day/500 m composites of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI; MOD13A1). The results reveal a strong increase in the NDVI coverage in the Middle East during the study period (R = 0.75, p-value = 0.05). In Egypt, the annual coverage exhibits the strongest positive trend (R = 0.99, p-value = 0.05). In Turkey, both the vegetation coverage and density increased from 2001 to 2019, which can be attributed to the construction of some of the biggest dams in the Middle East, such as the Atatürk and Ilisu dams. Significant increases in the annual coverage and maximum and average NDVI in Saudi Arabia are due to farming in the northern part of the country for which groundwater and desalinated seawater are used. The results of this study suggest that the main factors affecting the vegetation coverage in the Middle East are governmental policies. These policies can have a positive effect on the vegetation coverage in some countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, and Turkey.