Assessment of morphometric and hypsometric study for watershed development using spatial technology – a case study of Wardha river basin in Maharashtra, India

Abstract

ABSTRACT The assessable results of the Wardha river basin are essential for the behaviour of the drainage and river network and to know its geology, slope and geo-hydrological condition. The Wardha river basin is covered by 1730.85 sq. km2 with dendritic and sub-dentric drainage patterns. This study area is delineated into nine sub-watersheds from digital elevation model data using Arc hydro tools. The morphometric characters were observed to understand the drainage and watershed characteristics and its impact on groundwater resources for the occurrence of bifurcation ratio that shows very high runoff and low infiltration of groundwater recharge at the basaltic terrain rocks. Slope and topographic maps may be used for groundwater development; theses maps can be used for suitable well points and artificial and ground water recharge sites at the Wardha river basin. The slope values were inversely proportional to infiltration and it has led to the hypsometric analysis using Arc GIS 10.3 software. In this study, different types of morphometric characteristics were measured using computations of linear and areal aspect using geospatial technology domain. The total streams order (3509) has been identified from digital elevation model data. The data show that large numbers of stream are present in this area for scope of water harvesting structures and these play a main role in groundwater development and controlling soil erosion factors. In this study, various morphometric parameter were calculated using mathematical equation and spatial data for understanding of surface runoff, slope, watershed characteristics and watershed condition. Hypsometric investigation has been generally used to reveal the steps of geomorphic growth or land forms. The hypsometric integral value shows nine sub-watersheds observed which shows the mature stage at the Wardha river basin. The hypsometric analysis results have been calculated for watershed and groundwater development. During the study, bifurcation ratio values such as 2.5–4.25 suggest morphological and the basic control for watershed management and drainage network analysis in the area, while drainage density and fine drainage texture suggest its high runoff in basin. The drainage basin characteristics have been made for the assessment of many linear factors such as stream order, stream number, stream length, stream length ratio, bifurcation ratio, drainage density, texture ratio, and stream frequency) and Channel index (Ci) Valley index (Vi), Rho coefficient (q) and Basin Area. All these results may be useful for watershed development programme in the semi-arid area and most influence of basaltic hard rock areas.