Sub-Watershed Prioritization Using Compound Factor and GIS Analysis in A Semi-Arid Agricultural Watershed of Madhya Pradesh

A comprehensive morphometric analysis and prioritization of the Khair watershed, located in the semi-arid region of Madhya Pradesh, was carried out using spatial information technology. The watershed was divided into ten sub-watersheds to analyze various morphometric parameters, which were subsequently incorporated into compound factor analysis to assess erosion susceptibility. The results indicate that the four sub-watersheds SW-1 to SW-4 fall under the high-priority category and require immediate conservation measures, whereas the remaining sub-watersheds are classified under moderate to low priority. The study highlights that the integration of remote sensing, GIS, and statistical techniques provides a reliable and efficient framework for watershed prioritization, offering significant insights for sustainable land and water resource management in semi-arid regions prone to soil erosion and land degradation.