Identification of Soil Erosion-Prone Sub-basins Using GIS-Based Morphometric Analysis and Compound Parameter Method: A Case Study of Paisuni Watershed, Bundelkhand Region, Central India

Authors:

Ankit Gupta^¹, Anurag Singh^², Ravi Chaurey^³*

¹ Research Scholar (Geology), Dept. of Physical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, M.P., India

² GIS Analyst, Madhya Pradesh Council of Science & Technology (MPCST), Bhopal, M.P., India

³ Associate Professor (Geology), Dept. of Physical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, M.P., India

* Corresponding Author:iamankit52@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Identification of soil erosion-prone sub-basins and their prioritization for conservation treatment is a fundamental prerequisite for rational watershed management planning. The present study employs GIS-based morphometric analysis and the Compound Parameter (Cp) Method to delineate and prioritize 14 sub-basins within the Paisuni watershed (1615.27 km²) of the Bundelkhand region, Central India. A digitized Strahler stream network comprising 883 stream segments in five orders, with a total length of 1180.17 km, was used to derive twelve morphometric parameters for each sub-basin: weighted mean bifurcation ratio (Rbm), drainage density (Dd), stream frequency (Fs), drainage texture (T), form factor (Ff), circularity ratio (Rc), elongation ratio (Re), compactness coefficient (Cc), infiltration number (If), length of overland flow (Lo), and constant of channel maintenance (C). Each parameter was ranked individually based on its direct or inverse relationship with erosion susceptibility, and the mean rank (Cp value) was computed for each sub-basin. Sub-basins SB-11 and SB-04 received the lowest Cp values (4.083 and 4.250, respectively) and are classified as High Priority, characterized by high drainage density (Dd = 0.92 and 1.36 km/km²), high stream frequency (Fs = 1.30 and 0.74 /km²), and strongly non-circular form (Rc = 0.15 and 0.37). Seven sub-basins are assigned Medium Priority (Cp: 6.0–8.0), and the remaining five fall in Low or Very Low priority categories. The spatial distribution of erosion susceptibility does not correlate with sub-basin area alone, underscoring the necessity of multi-parameter morphometric approaches over simplistic size-based prioritization. The results provide a spatially explicit, scientifically grounded framework for implementing soil and water conservation measures in the Paisuni watershed and can be directly integrated into district-level watershed management plans for Chitrakoot and Banda districts.

Keywords: sub-basin prioritization; compound parameter method; Paisuni watershed; Bundelkhand; morphometric analysis; soil erosion; GIS; watershed management; drainage density