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Assessing Vegetation Response to Drought in the Central Part of Oltenia Plain (Romania) Using Vegetation and Drought Indices

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  • Lavinia Crișu

    (Doctoral School of Sciences, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Andreea-Gabriela Zamfir

    (Doctoral School of Sciences, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania
    “Eliza Opran” Secondary School, 207340 Ișalnița, Romania)

  • Alina Vlăduț

    (Geography Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Sandu Boengiu

    (Geography Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Daniel Simulescu

    (Geography Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Oana Mititelu-Ionuș

    (Geography Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

Abstract

Drought is an extremely negative phenomenon that is becoming increasingly frequent in the southern part of Romania (Oltenia Plain). An insufficiency or lack of precipitation, especially in the warm season, induces a state of stress on the vegetation, damaging it prematurely and decreasing the agricultural yield. Integrating satellite observations into research inventories has practical applications for drought dynamics in plain regions and may significantly contribute to its agricultural sustainability. The aim of our study was to highlight the relationship between drought and vegetation health in the central parts of the Oltenia Plain, namely, the Băilești Plain and Nedeia Plain. We used four different indices (SPI/SPI-CDF-ISND, SPEI, NDVI, NDMI) in order to assess the occurrence of meteorological and agricultural drought and gained a wider picture regarding past and future trends. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of vegetation health index trends and their implications for climate change. The selected indices were the most suitable for assessing drought according to the literature, and combining all of them helped us to obtain a full picture of drought’s impact on vegetation.

Suggested Citation

  • Lavinia Crișu & Andreea-Gabriela Zamfir & Alina Vlăduț & Sandu Boengiu & Daniel Simulescu & Oana Mititelu-Ionuș, 2025. "Assessing Vegetation Response to Drought in the Central Part of Oltenia Plain (Romania) Using Vegetation and Drought Indices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-28, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2618-:d:1613486
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ionuţ Minea & Marina Iosub & Daniel Boicu, 2022. "Multi-scale approach for different type of drought in temperate climatic conditions," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 110(2), pages 1153-1177, January.
    2. M. Ionita & P. Scholz & S. Chelcea, 2016. "Assessment of droughts in Romania using the Standardized Precipitation Index," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 81(3), pages 1483-1498, April.
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