Morphometric analysis and watershed prioritisation: a case study of Kabani river basin, Wayanad district, Kerala, India

Kabani river is a 7 order stream with a basin area of 1647 km. There are 4 sixth order and11 fifth order sub-basins. This analysis is mainly confined to 11 fifth order sub basins. Morphometric indices like stream ordering, bifurcation ratio, stream length, drainage density, stream frequency, form factor, elongation ratio, circularity ratio, constant of channel maintenance, asymmetry factor, sinuosity index, length of overland flow, drainage texture, relief ratio and relative relief have been worked out for all these 11 fifth order sub basins. Factors considered for watershed prioritisation are: bifurcation ratio, drainage density, stream frequency, drainage texture, form factor, circularity ratio, elongation ratio and relative relief. Sub watershed like Ws1, Ws3, Ws4, Ws10 and Ws11 showing low compound parameter are suggested for conservation treatment.