Identification of soil erosion-prone zone utilizing geo-informatics techniques and WSPM model

Abstract

Geo-informatics techniques are viable being utilized in recent decades as a critical apparatus in deciding the quantitative portrayal of morphometry of a watershed. These procedures portray the high exactness of mapping and estimation of the morphometric analysis. The point of this study is, hence, to break down the GIS (Geographic information System)-based morphometric exercises of the River Ganga basin. This analysis requires depiction of every single existing stream. The estimation and investigation of the basin and its seventeen noteworthy sub-watersheds are carried on GIS stage. The parameters required as inputs are pour point, stream order map, and DEM (Digital Elevation Model). The results uncovered that the mean estimation of Form Factor (Ff) is 0.29 and Compactness coefficient (Cc) is 3.16, which demonstrates the shape of the watershed is not circular, it is elongated. The mean estimation of Stream Frequency (Sf) is 1.22 which be evidence for that the basin has reduced infiltration capacity. The value 2.87 of bifurcation Ratio (Rb) proposes that the watershed is steady. The distinctive estimations of Texture Ratio (T) recommend that the watershed has a fluctuating slope yet plain at the more significant part of the area. The prioritization of the sub-watersheds has been made using a novel approach Weighted Sum Priority Model (WSPM). Combined rank for each sub-watershed has been calculated using the WSPM model. Based on that model, it can likewise be reasoned that the sub-watersheds SW15 and SW16 are more soil erosion-prone sub-watersheds among all the seventeen sub-watersheds. Results of the study can be further utilized for prioritizing watershed for soil erosion-prone areas and also for watershed management planning zones. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.