Morphometric analysis is significant for investigation and management of the watershed. This study depicts the morphometric analysis of Miniwada Watershed in Nagpur district, Maharashtra, Central India using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, which has been carried out through measurement of various aspects like linear, aerial and relief aspects of watershed. The drainage network of the watershed was generated from Cartosat-I DEM (10 m) using ESRI Software ArcGIS (ver.10.2). The analysis reveals that drainage pattern is dendritic and the stream order in the watershed varies from 1 to 4. The total number of stream segments of all orders counted as 37, out of which the majority of orders (70.27 %) was covered by 1st order streams and 4th order stream segments covers only 2.70 %. The bifurcation ratio reflects the geological and tectonic characteristics of the watershed and estimated as 3.08. The drainage density of the watershed is 3.63 km/sq km and it indicates the closeness of spacing of channels. The systematic analysis of various parameters in GIS helps in better understanding the soil resources distribution, watersheds prioritization, planning and management. Keywords Central India Á Basaltic terrain Á Morphometric analysis Á Miniwada watershed Á GIS Á Linear Á Areal Á Relief aspects & Nisha Sahu
ABSTRACT:To assess the relative tectonic activity classes, five geomorphic indices such as stream-gradient index (SL), drainage basin asymmetry (Af), hypsometric integral (Hi), valley floor width -valley height ratio (Vf) and drainage basin shape (Bs) of ninetyfour sub-basins of Valapattanam river basin have been analysed by applying the standard formulae. Relative tectonic activity classes (Iat) obtained by the average (S/n) of different classes of geomorphic indices have been classified into three groups. Group I shows high tectonic activity with values of S/n < 2; group II shows moderate tectonic activity with S/n > 2 to < 2.5; and group III shows low tectonic activity with values of S/n ≥ 2.5. Field evidences such as deep valleys, sudden changes in the river course and waterfalls at fault planes clearly agree with the values and classes of tectonic geomorphic indices.
The study area is characterized by low and fluctuating rainfall pattern, thin soil cover, predominantly rain-fed farming with low productivity coupled with intensive mining activities, urbanization, deforestation, wastelands and unwise utilization of natural resources causing human induced environmental degradation and ecological imbalances, that warrant sustainable development and optimum management of land resources. Spatial information related to existing geology, land use/land cover, physiography, slope and soils has been derived through remote sensing, collateral data and field survey and used as inputs in a widely used erosion model (Universal Soil Loss Equation) in India to compute soil loss (t/ha/yr) in GIS. The study area has been delineated into very slight (<5 t/ha/yr), slight (5-10 t/ha/yr), moderate (10-15 t/ha/yr), moderately severe (15-20 t/ha/yr), severe (20-40 t/ha/yr) and very severe (>40 t/ha/yr) soil erosion classes. The study indicate that 45.4 thousand ha. (13.7% of TGA) is under moderate, moderately severe, severe and very severe soil erosion categories. The physiographic unit wise analysis of soil loss in different landscapes have indicated the sensitive areas, that has helped to prioritize development and management plans for soil and water conservation measures and suitable interventions like afforestation, agroforestry, agri-horticulture, silvipasture systems which will result in the improvement of productivity of these lands, protect the environment from further degradation and for the ecological sustenance.
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