A Multivariate Geomorphometric Approach to Prioritize Drought Prone Sakri Basin for Land and Water Resource Management

Soil and water resource management is a serious concern in respect of climate variability to increase soil moisture and fulfil the need of living population and flora and fauna. In the context of basin, prioritization of sub-watershed has gained significance in the natural resource management. The study prioritized the sub-watershed of the Sakri basin using a multivariate geomorphometric approach. The basin resulted in the formation of 11 sub-watersheds. Measurement of basic and derived morphometric parameter was considered, and 17 parameters have been taken for ranking and priority of sub-watershed. The morphometric analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) approaches were employed for ranking and prioritization of sub-watershed, based on high correlated parameters. Based on the results of morphometric analysis and PCA, sub-watersheds were categorized in high, medium and low priority. Among a total of 11 sub-watersheds, sub-watershed (SW) 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9 falling under high priority, which accounting to 46.82% of the basin. The high priority sub-watershed is at a higher risk of erosion which needs instantaneous soil and water conservation measures for betterment of basin morphometry and minimizes drought conditions. Results of the two approaches show that morphometric-based prioritization is more reliable and better in decision making for soil and water conservation planning at the sub-watershed level. Overall, these results are highly relevant in planning and developing of suitable soil and water conservation structures for mitigation and prevention in the region.