Morphometric analysis of Kharlikani watershed in Odisha, India using spatial information technology

Morphometric characteristics of watershed allow us to predict the hydrologic response to various watershed management practices and to have a better understanding of the impacts of these practices. In the present study attempt has been made to analyse the nature and structure of Kharlikani watershed by applying various morphometric techniques. The present study area, Kharlikani watershed is situated at a distance of 8 km away from the Balangir district in the state of Odisha, India and it covers 50.44 ha area. The GIS model is used to create the basin model map which is based on topography. It drives watershed network from the topographic information and calculate their relevant characteristics. With this topographical map, other maps like soil type, land slope, land use/pattern, drainage network, watershed boundary map etc. were extracted. The measurement of linear, aerial and relief aspects of basin and slope contributions are calculated using various techniques. Various morphometric parameters including linear, aerial and relief aspects such as stream order, stream length, bifurcation ratio, drainage density, relief ratio, circulatory ratio, elongation ratio, form factor, texture ratio, ruggedness ratio etc. are calculated for the Kharlikani watershed and discussed in this paper to study the nature of the watershed. The study reveals that the watershed is elongated in nature and has low drainage density. It has less structural disturbances and drainage pattern has been distorted.