Development of a Geomorphological Erosion Index for Shakkar Watershed

Abstract Geomorphological parameters directly or indirectly reflect almost entire watershed based causative factors affecting runoff and sediment loss/soil erosion. So, in the absence of sufficient hydrological data morphometric parameters along with satellite based land use/ land cover information of watershed may be helpful in prioritizing the sub-watersheds. Keeping these aspects in view, it was planned to develop a geomorphological index in the Shakkar river catchment of Upper Narmada Basin, India, The objective of the present study is to develop the Geomorphological Index using Principal Component Analysis on the morphometric parameters derived from the Geographic Information System (GIS) environment, which can be used by the field investigators and modeler's in assessing the soil erosion. As an outcome of the analysis, the geomorphological index synthesizes the status of the three morphometric parameters i.e. drainage frequency (Fs), form factor (Rr) and bifurcation ratio (Rb) into a single indicator of geomorphological index. The Geomorphological Index (GI) for the study area found to vary from 3.64 to 21.63. The implementation of geomorphological index may provide the guiding data for sustainable water-resources management in Shakkar river watershed.