LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BISARAHALLI-1 (4D4A1W2d) MICROWATERSHED Alavandi Hobli, Koppal Taluk & District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Bisarahalli-1 microwatershed was conducted using village cadastral maps and IRS satellite imagery on 1:7920 scale. The false colour composites of IRS imagery were interpreted for physiography and these physiographic delineations were used as base for mapping soils. The soils were studied in several transects and a soil map was prepared with phases of soil series as mapping units. Random checks were made all over the area outside the transects to confirm and validate the soil map unit boundries. The soil map shows the geographic distribution and extent, characterstics, classification and use potentials of the soils in the microwartershed. The present study covers an area of 571 ha in Koppal taluk and district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought prone with an average annual rainfall of 662 mm, of which about 424 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 161 mm during north-east and the remaining 105 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 97 per cent is covered by soils, three per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 14 soil series and 21soil phases (management units) and 9 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about <90 days and starts from 2nd week of August to 2nd week of November  From the master soil map, several interpretative and thematic maps like land capability, soil depth, surface soil texture, soil gravelliness, available water capacity, soil slope and soil erosion were generated.  Soil fertility status maps for macro and micronutrients were generated based on the surface soil samples collected at every 250 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 97 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 3% is not suitable for agriculture.  About 40 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) to shallow (25-50 cm) and about 57 per cent are moderately deep to very deep soils.  About 24 per cent of the area has loamy soils at the surface and 73 per cent of the area has clayey soils.  About 30 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 60 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel) and 7 per cent very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) soils.  About 17 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m), 67 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) to very low (<50mm/m) in available water capacity and 13 per cent area has very high (>200mm/m) available water capacity.  About 84 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands and 12 per cent area has nearly level (0-1%) lands.  An area of about 85 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 12 per cent moderately eroded (e2).  An area of about 41 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 26 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 9.0) and 8 per cent has very strongly alkaline (pH>9.0). A very small area of about 2 per cent is neutral (2%) in reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 57 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) in organic carbon, low (<0.5%) in about 36 per cent and 2 per cent of the soils are high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of about 50 per cent low (<23 kg/ha), 45 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus and one per cent of the area has high (>57 kg/ha) available phosphorus.  About 54 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha), low (<145 kg/ha) in 6 per cent and 37 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in about 71 per cent area and about 26 per cent area is high (>10 ppm).  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 79 per cent area and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 18 per cent area.  Available iron is deficient in about 47 per cent area and sufficient in 50 per cent area.  Available zinc is deficient in about 76 per cent area and sufficient in 21 per cent area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  The land suitability for 27 major crops grown in the microwatershed were assessed and the areas that are highly suitable (S1) and moderately suitable (S2) are given below. It is however to be noted that a given soil may be suitable for various crops but what specific crop to be grown may be decided by the farmer looking to his capacity to invest on various inputs, marketing infrastructure, price and finally the demand and supply position. Land suitability for various crops in the microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum 20 (3) 287 (50) Jackfruit 44 (8) 56 (10) Maize 17(3) 163(28) Jamun - 174(30) Cotton 3(<1) 373(65) Musambi 47 (8) 179(31) Redgram 17(3) 225(39) Lime 47 (8) 179(31) Bengal gram 3(<1) 381 (67) Cashew 44 (8) 85(15) Bajra 92 (16) 96(17) Custard apple 166(29) 248 (43) Groundnut 11 (2) 229(40) Amla 92 (16) 321(56) Chilli 54 (9) 127 (22) Tamarind - 126(22) Drumstick 44 (8) 251(34) Marigold 17(3) 290(51) Mulbery 92 (16) 239 (42) Chrysanthemum 17(3) 290(51) Pomegranate 44 (8) 182(32) Jasmine 17(3) 164(28) Tomato 54 (9) 127(22) Crossandra 17(3) 285(50) Guava 44 (8) 56(10) Mango - 52(9) Sapota 44 (8) 56(10) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 9 identified LUCs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fibre and horticulture crops.  Maintaining soil-health is vital to crop production and conserve soil and land resource base for maintaining ecological balance and to mitigate climate change. For this, several ameliorative measures have been suggested to these problematic soils like saline/alkali, highly eroded, sandy soils etc.,  Soil and water conservation treatment plan has been prepared that would help in identifying the sites to be treated and also the type of structures required.  As part of the greening programme, several tree species have been suggested to be planted in marginal and submarginal lands and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges. SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS Baseline socioeconomic characterisation is prerequisite to prepare action plan for program implementation and to assess the project performance before making any changes in the watershed development program. The baseline provides appropriate policy direction for enhancing productivity and sustainability in agriculture. Methodology: The Bisarahalli-1 micro-watershed (Koppal taluk, and district) is located in between 15015’ – 15016’ North latitudes and 7603’ – 7605’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 571.40 ha, bounded by Bisarahalli and Bikanahalli villages. Agro Ecological Region (AER) – 3: (Deccan plateau, hot arid ecosubregion) Karnataka Plateau (Rayalseema as inclusion), hot arid ESR with deep loamy and clayey mixed Red and Black soils, low to medium AWC and LGP 60-90 days. We used soil resource map as basis for sampling farm households to test the hypothesis that soil quality influence crop selection, and conservation investment of farm households. The level of technology adoption and productivity gaps and livelihood patterns were analyses. The cost of soil degradation and ecosystem services were quantified for each watershed. Results: The socio-economic outputs for the Bisarahalli-1 Microwatershed in Koppal taluk and district are presented here Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 52.8 to 47.2 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 52 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 61 per cent.  Social groups belong to SC/ST is around 32.3 per cent.  Wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 94.8 per cent.  About 75 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (75 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employments.  Dependence on ration cards through public distribution system is around 92.7 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 87.5 per cent.  Institutional participation is only 3.9 per cent.  Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevalent among 4.7 per cent.  Women participation is decisions making are around 35.3 per cent of households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.8 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The dry land account for 70.4 % and irrigated land 9.8 % of total cultivated land among the sample farmers. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation among 16.1 per cent and Agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is predominant subsidiary occupation for 61.7 per cent.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs 43462 per household. Mobile and television are mass popular mass communication media.  The average farm assets a value is around Rs 147511 per household, about 9.4 per cent of sample farmers are owing plough.  The average livestock value is around Rs 19645 per livestock; about 43.7 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 754.4 grams (1799.1 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 17.7 per cent of sample farmers are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs 30895 per household. About 15.5 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly expenditure is around Rs 485 per household. Environmental Indicators-Ecosystem Services;  The value of ecosystem service helps to support investment to decision on soil and water conservation and in promoting sustainable land use.  The onsite cost of different soil nutrients lost due to soil erosion is around Rs 9574.8 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs 66276 per year for the total area of 571.4 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food production is around Rs.10363/ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in chillies (Rs.60584) followed by onion (Rs.16554), green gram (Rs.13308), red gram (Rs.9023), cotton (Rs.6411), groundnut (Rs.5170), sunflower (Rs.5069), black gram (Rs.4409), sorghum (Rs.2120), bengal gram (Rs.1445), bajra (Rs.696) and maize is negative returns.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs 3978/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs 5641) followed by bajra (Rs 5468), groundnut (Rs 3188) and sorghum (Rs 1616).  The data on water requirement for producing one quintal of grain is considered for estimating the total value of water required for crop production. The per hectare value of water used and value of water was maximum in green gram (Rs 85289) followed by cotton (Rs.61368), bajra (Rs.56254), black gram (Rs.51173), bengal gram (Rs.51173), red gram (Rs.44643), sunflower (Rs.31952), sorghum (Rs.31723), groundnut (Rs.27684), maize (Rs.20862), onion (Rs.11197), ragi (Rs.10564) and chillies (Rs.8126). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is maize (32.2 %) followed by red gram (17 %), groundnut (16.4 %), bajra (13.8 %), sunflower (8.8 %), cotton (4.8 %), sorghum (3 %), onion (1.1 %), bengal gram (0.6 %), black gram (0.6 %), chillies (0.6 %), green gram (0.6 %) and ragi (0.6 %).  The distribution of major soil series are Muttal (MTL) and Chikkasavanur (CSR) soil series having shallow soil depth covering an area around 21.36 per cent and 2.94 per cent of area respectively. The moderately shallow soil depth of soil series were Hatti (HTI) of share of area 10.56 %, Kethanapura (KTP) is 0.64 % and Mukhadahalli (MKH) is 4.28 %. The soil series having moderately deep soil depth are Dambarahalli (DRL) of 9.3 %, Bisarahalli (BSR) of 6.4 %, Bidanagere (BDG) of 5.14 % and Gollarahatti (GHT) of 1.98 %. Gatareddihal (GRH) of 12.82 %, Balapur (BPR) of 12.07 %, Kumchahalli (KMH) of 7.78 %, this soil series having deep soil depth and Niduvalalu (NDL) soil series very deep soil depth which area is 1.36 per cent.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for bajra is Rs.22148/ha (with BCR of 1.27).  In bengal gram the cost of cultivation is Rs 21526/ha (with BCR of 1.07).  In black gram the cost of cultivation is Rs 21526/ha and benefit cost ratio is 1.20.  The cost of cultivation of chillies is Rs.53036/ha (with BCR of 1.30).  In cotton the cost of cultivation is Rs 34715/ha (with BCR of 1.17).  In green gram the cost of cultivation is Rs.43502/ha (With BCR of 1.30).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation is Rs. 31317/ha (with BCR of 1.31).  The total cost of cultivation for maize is Rs. 28054/ha (with BCR of 1.30).  In onion the cost of cultivation is Rs.24942/ha (with BCR of 1.25).  In ragi the cost of cultivation is Rs.14965/ha (with BCR of 1.44).  In red gram the cost of cultivation is Rs 20950/ha (with BCR of 1.58).  In sorghum cost of cultivation is Rs. 15920/ha (with BCR of 1.21) and sunflower cultivation is Rs 25139/ha (with BCR of 1.19).  The land management practices reported by the farmers are crop rotation, tillage practices, fertilizer application and use of Farm Yard Manure (FYM). Due to higher wages farmer are following labour saving strategies is not prating soil and water conservation measures. Less ownership of livestock limiting application of FYM.  It was observed soil quality influences on the type and intensity of land use. Fertilizer applications are deeper soils to maximize returns. Suggestions;  Involving farmers is watershed planning helps in strengthing institutional participation. 4  The per capita food consumption and monthly income is very low. Diversifying income generation activities from crop and livestock production in order to reduce risk related to drought and market prices.  Majority of farmers reported that they are not getting timely support/extension services from the concerned development departments.  By strengthing agricultural extension for providing timely advice improved technology there is scope to increase in net income of farm households.  By adopting recommended package of practices by following the soil test fertiliser recommendation, there is scope to increase yield in chillies (92.4 %), onion (81.5 %), maize (71.2 %), red gram (44.4 %), ragi (43.5 %), sorghum (37.8 %), black gram (34.8 %), bengal gram (16.7 %), cotton (14.2 %), sun flower (13.1 %) and bajra (10.7 %).