LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PADSAVLI-3 (4D5C2E1c) MICROWATERSHED Aland Taluk, Gulbarga District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Padasavli-3 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 690 ha in Padasavli-3 microwatershed in Aland taluk of Kalaburgi district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought prone with an average annual rainfall of 786 mm of which about 595 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 116 mm during north-east and the remaining 75 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 99 per cent is covered by soils, one per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 8 soil series and 29 soil phases (management units) and 5 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 3rd week of June to 1rd week of October.  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 degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 99 per cent area is suitable for agriculture.  About 18 per cent of the soils are very deep (>150 cm) to moderately deep (75-100 cm), 51 per cent are moderately shallow to shallow (25-75 cm) and about 30 per cent are very shallow (<25 cm) soils.  About 98 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface and two per cent has loamy soils.  About 58 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 36 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel) and 6 per cent has very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) soils.  About 11 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity, 8 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and about 80 per cent low (50- 100 mm/m) and very low (<50mm/m).  About 99 per cent of the area has very gently sloping (1-5% slope) to gently sloping lands and about one per cent area is moderately (5-10% slope) sloping lands.  An area of about 53 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 27 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 20 per cent severely eroded (e3).  An area of about 73 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), about 26 per cent slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) and <1 per cent neutral (pH 6.5-7.3).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 67 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%), 29 percent low (<0.5%) and 3 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  Major area of 99 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) and <1 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 44 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha), less than one percent low (<145 kg/ha) and 55 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 13 per cent area, medium (10-20 ppm) in 71 per cent and 16 per cent high (>20 ppm).  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 62 per cent and 37 per cent medium (0.5-1.0 ppm).  About 7 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 92 per cent sufficient (>0.6 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  About 85 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc and 14 per cent sufficient (>0.6 ppm).  The land suitability for 18 major crops (agricultural and horticultural) 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 97 (14) 68 (10) Sapota - - Maize - - Jackfruit - - Red gram - 165 (24) Jamun - 75 (11) Sunflower 97 (14) 68 (10) Musambi 75 (11) 47(7) Cotton 97 (14) 68 (10) Lime 75(11) 47 (7) Sugarcane - - Cashew - - Soybean 97 (14) 68 (10) Custard apple 97 (14) 64(9) Guava - - Amla 97 (14) 64(9) Mango - - Tamarind - 75 (11) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 5 identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, fibre and horticulture crops that helps in maintaining the ecological balance in the microwatershed.  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 field bunds, 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: Padasavli-3 micro-watershed (Padasavli sub-watershed, Aland taluk, Gulbarga district) is located in between 17034’–17037’ North latitudes and 76026’– 76029’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 689.60 ha, bounded by Chincholi Khurd, Khandala, Khanapur and Nagalogaon villages with length of growing period (LGP) 120-150 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. Results: The socio-economic outputs for the Padasavli-3 micro-watershed (Padasavli sub-watershed, Aland taluk, Gulbarga district) are presented here. Social Indicators  Male and female ratio is 45.2 to 54.8 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 57.2 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 81 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 80 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 60 per cent.  About 20 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 20 percent of farm households are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 80 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 40 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making for agriculture production of households was found. Economic Indicators  The average land holding is 2.04 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land of 55.8 % and irrigated land 44.2% of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation among 23.8 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 66.7 per cent and private service is 9.5 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 14798 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 106880 per household, about 50 per cent of sample farmers having bullock cart and plough.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 23395 per household; about 40.0 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 915.2 grams (2067.73 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 10 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 49807.6 per household. About 40.0 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.1142. 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. 983 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 674334 per year for the total area of 689.6 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 170920/ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in red gram (Rs. 29175) and sugar cane (Rs. 19682).  The data on water requirement for producing one quintal of grain is considered for estimating the total value of water required for crop production. Per hectare value of water used and value of water was maximum in red gram (Rs. 544) and sugarcane (Rs.21). Economic Land Evaluation  The major cropping pattern is red gram (77.60 %) and sugarcane (22.4 %).  In Padasavli 3 microwatershed, major soil is Margutti (MGT) soil series is having very shallow soil depth cover around 28 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram. Bhimanahalli (BHI) soil are also having shallow soil depth cover (20.13 %) of area, the major crop is red gram. Novinahala (NHA) soil series having shallow soil depth cover around 25.46 per cent of areas, crops are red gram (50 %) and sugarcane (50.0 %). Gutti (GTT) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 5 % of area; crop is red gram. Kamalapur soil 3 series having moderately deep soil depth cover around 7.41 per cent of areas; crop is red gram.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for redgram the cost of cultivation range between Rs 33406/ha in KMP soil (with of 1.85) and Rs.20087/ha in GTT soil (with BCR of 2.96).  In sugarcane cost of cultivation in NHA soil is Rs.52729/ha (with BCR of 1.37).  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. More fertilizer applications in deeper soils to maximize returns. Suggestions  Involving farmers is watershed planning helps in strengthing institutional participation.  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 red gram (11.1 to 7.1 %), sugarcane (73 %).