The Study of Morphological Characteristics for Best Management Practices Over the Rampur Watershed of Mahanadi River Basin Using Prioritization

Abstract

A morphometric analysis has been carried out for Rampur watershed of Mahanadi river basin, and its nine sub-watersheds have been prioritized according to the linear, aerial and relief characteristics. Based on digital elevation model, delineation of sub-watersheds (SWs) has been done by using ArcMap 10.2.2. The drainage analysis and their respective parameters such as stream order, stream length, stream frequency, drainage density, texture ratio, form factor, circulatory ratio, elongation ratio, bifurcation ratio and compactness coefficient for the sub-watersheds have been evaluated by applying remote sensing and geospatial techniques. Based on the behaviour of morphometric parameters of each sub-watershed (SW), the prioritized score has been allocated, and thereafter, the most sensitive parameters have been distinguished by the evaluated combined scores. The results achieved from the analysis show that the stream order varies from 1 to 6 and the first order covers 30.5% of the total catchment area. The watershed has 2087 stream segment numbers of all order. Based on morphometric analysis, prioritizing each SW has been the primary objective of this study. The final score of each sub-watershed has been allocated as per erosion threat. The highest priority has been allocated to the SW which shows the least compound parameter value. Eventually, the grouping of SWs has been done according to the high (4.0–4.7), medium (4.8–5.3) and low (> 5.4) priority classes depending on their prioritized score, maximum (6.0) and minimum (4.0).