Calculating Ecosystem Services provided by agricultural land using GIS and Remote Sensing methods

For this study we use Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing methods to calculate some Ecosystem Services provided by agricultural land and make the case for its value and preservation. Our study area consists of Albemarle, Charles City, Chesterfield and Henrico counties in eastern Virginia. Each is facing different development pressures affecting their ability to provide ecosystem services. We link SSURGO soil mapping units with the VALUES agricultural productivity estimates to estimate realistic yield for 15 crops in actual agricultural land, as extracted from multiple years of the National Land Cover Database and the NASS Cropland Data Layer. We identify which farm plots are better suited for biofuel production without compromising local ability to produce sufficient food for the local population. Knowing farm productivity we can also calculate the Net Primary Productivity of agricultural land and compare it with other local land covers. Then we model the effects of agriculture on soil air carbon flows and carbon sequestration. Incorporating fertilizer recommendations and pesticide use models we calculate their quantities utilized and efficiency ratios. Finally we calculate economic outcome, impact and identify areas prone to change to and from agricultural production in the study area using the cost models given by Virginia Cooperative Extension publications. Our methodologies are based on readily available data and open information and can be used in other areas by different researchers. Our estimates can be improved through the use of better models.