Morphometric analysis of six sub-watersheds in the central zone of Narmada River

Morphometric analysis of six sub-watersheds (Chandni Nalla, Tawa River, Gunjari Nalla, Gadaria Nalla, Kaliyadeh River and Bhagner River) in the central zone of the Narmada River basin was carried out using remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques. The morphometric parameters of the sub-watersheds are classified under linear, aerial and relief aspects. Morphometric analysis has been carried out using GIS software-ERDAS Imagine (V 8.7) and Arc GIS (V 9.0). Drainage network in the study area shows dendritic pattern. Dendritic pattern, in general is considered as a group of resequent streams within homogenous lithology and gently sloping topography. Stream orders range from first to sixth order. Results obtained from the morphometric analysis show that all sub-watersheds have very coarse to coarse drainage texture and fall under normal basin category, while the elongation ratio (Re) shows that Chandni sub-watershed is circular in shape and the remaining sub-watersheds are elongated.