Sediment Yield Index (SYI) based prioritization of Benisagar reservoir catchment area using remote sensing and GIS

An integrated approach to identify priority/critical sub-watershed by the Sediment Yield Index (SYI) model of the All India Soil and Land Use Survey (AIS&LUS, 1991) has been used for identification of priority sub-watersheds in Benisagar reservoir catchment of Madhya Pradesh. The SYI values of individual subwatersheds have been computed in 36 sub-watersheds and categorized in very high, high, medium, low and very low priority classes. The significant variation in SYI values calls for conservation planning in cases of very high (13.15 sq km) and high (27.50 sq km) priority sub-watersheds. The SYI method of prioritization has been employed for identification of environmentally stressed sub-watersheds in Banisagar catchment and concluded that 41.93 sq km area which is nearly 50% of total catchment comes under very high and high priorities need immediate attention for soil conservation measures.