Morphometric Analysis of Kajali River Basin Using Geospatial Techniques

Abstract

Soil and water are the important natural resources and important input for agricultural production. The present study has been attempted to delineate and determine morphometric characteristics of Sakharpa watershed in Ratnagiri district by using Remote Sensing and GIS. The delineation of watershed was performed in QGIS 3.18.3 software. The study area was obtained from SRTM DEM with 30meter resolution after delineation. Sakharpa watershed shows a dendritic drainage pattern. The results found for morphometric parameters were Bifurcation Ratio (Rb)2-5.5, Form factor (Ff) 0.32, Elongation ratio (Re) 0.63, Circulatory ratio (Rc) 0.32, Shape index (Sw) 3.18,Drainage density (Dd)1.18km/km2, Stream frequency (Fs)1.48 km-2, Texture ratio (Rt)1.08, Drainage texture (Dt)2.24,Constant of channel maintenance (C)0.84km2/km, Length of overland flow (Lg) 0.42, Basin relief (R) 763.92 m, Relief Ratio (Rr) 0.045,Relative Relief (Rhp) 1.27,Ruggedness Number (Rn) 0.904. The study concluded that the watershed is elongated in shape, have dense vegetation and homogeneous with less structural disturbance. This morphometric analysis of drainage basin helps to planning and development of watershed also helps to understand relation between linear, areal and relief parameters of drainage basin.