Identification of potential zones on the estimation of direct runoff and soil erosion for an ungauged watershed based on remote sensing and GIS techniques

An investigation of soil and water resources is essential to determine the future scenario of water management and water resources to attain food and water security. The improper management of watersheds results in a huge amount of sediment loss and surface runoff. Therefore, the present study was carried out to estimate the surface runoff and soil erosion using the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method and Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), respectively. These have been estimated using geospatial technologies for the ungauged Mandri river watershed from the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh State in India. The runoff potential zones, which are defined by the area's impermeable surfaces for a given quantity of precipitation were identified based on curve numbers at the sub-watershed levels. The results showed that the average volume of runoff generated throughout the 16-years period was 14.37 million cubic meters (mM3). While average annual soil loss was found to be 17.23 tons/ha/year. Most of the eroded area was found to be around the major stream in a drainage system of Mandri River and on higher slopes of the terrain in the watershed. This study revealed that surface runoff and soil erosion are primary issues, which adversely affected the soil and water resources in this watershed. Therefore, suitable water harvesting sites and structures can be constructed based on the potential runoff zone and severity of soil erosion to conserve the soil and water in the watershed.