Soil Erosion Planning for Reservoir Watershed Using Sediment Yield Index Method: A Case Study of Ujjani Reservoir

摘要

Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon in the watershed. The estimation and prioritization-based conservation of soil erosion on the sub-watershed level is essential for the effective management of the watershed. Through a case study, this study examines the soil loss extent of 19 sub-watersheds in the Ujjani reservoir catchment. Besides rainfall, soil texture, and land use land cover, the slope is playing a vital role in the estimation of soil erosion. For precise consideration of the slope parameter, the toposheet of the study area is digitized and used in the analysis. The sediment yield index (SYI) method is employed for the estimation of sediment yield using weighted value of rainfall, topography, soil, and land use parameters of 19 sub-watersheds of the catchment. Based on the susceptibility of erosion estimated using SYI, the entire watershed is classified into five priority zones: as very high, high, medium, low, and very low. The remedial measures are recommended based on prioritization analysis. The outcome of this study can be helpful to the government organization and local agencies to manage the watershed effectively, which in turn helps in managing the reservoir sedimentation and related issues.