LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KONCHIGERI (4D4A3I2a) MICRO WATERSHED Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Konchigeri 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 boundaries. The soil map shows the geographic distribution and extent, characteristics, classification and use potentials of the soils in the microwartershed. The present study covers an area of 479 ha in Konchigeri microwatershed in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought prone with an average annual rainfall of 633 mm. Maximum of 363 mm precipitation takes place during south–west monsoon period from June to September, the north-east monsoon contributes about 165 mm and prevails from October to early December and the remaining 105 mm takes place during the rest of the year. An area of about 94 per cent is covered by soils, six per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 16 soil series and 26 soil phases (management units) and 6 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 3rd week of June to 3rd 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 94 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 6 per cent is not suitable for agriculture but well suited for forestry, pasture, agroforestry, silvi-pasture, recreation, installation of wind mills and as habitat for wildlife.  About 26 per cent of the soils are very deep (>150 cm) to deep (100 - 150 cm), 20 per cent moderately deep (75 - 100 cm), 49 per cent are moderately shallow to shallow (25-75 cm).  About 73 per cent of the area has clayey soils and 22 per cent loamy soils at the surface.  About 14 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15% gravel) soils, 39 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel) and 37per cent very gravelly soils (35- 60% gravel).  About 17 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity, 14 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and about 64 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) and very low (<50mm/m).  About 94 per cent of the area has nearly level (0-1%) to very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  An area of about 72 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 22 per cent moderately eroded (e2).  An area of about 25 per cent has soils that are neutral in reaction (pH 6.5 to 7.3), 16 per cent slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 28 per cent moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 24 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 9.0) and 1 per cent is very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dSm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 53 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 41 per cent low (<0.5%) in organic carbon.  An area of 16 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) and major area of 79 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 65 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha), 23 per cent low (<145 kg/ha) and 6 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 70 per cent area, medium (10-20 ppm) in 23 per cent and 1 per cent high (>20 ppm).  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 33 per cent area and 61 per cent medium (0.5-1.0 ppm).  About 59 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 35per cent sufficient (>4.5 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  Available zinc content is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire microwatershed area.  The land suitability for 21 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 130 (27) 114 (24) Jackfruit - 16 (3) Maize 32 (7) 59 (12) Jamun - 81 (17) Bengal gram 32(7) 330 (69) Musambi 24 (5) 159 (33) Groundnut 32 (7) 59 (12) Lime 24 (5) 162 (34) Sunflower 16 (12) 213 (44) Cashew - 94 (20) Cotton 16 (3) 286 (60) Custard apple 82 (17) 136 (28) Banana 16 (3) 214(44) Amla 130 (27) 133(28) Pomegranate 16 (3) 214 (44) Tamarind 87 (16) 153 (32) Mango - 69 (14) Marigold 16 (3) 287 (60) Guava 16 (3) 105 (22) Chrysanthamum 16 (3) 287 (60) Sapota - 85 (18) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 6 identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, 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 sub-marginal 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: Konchigeri micro-watershed (Belhatti sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) is located in between 1502’ – 1504’ North latitudes and 75036’ – 75039’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 322 ha, bounded by Belhatti, Chikasavanur, Konchigeri and Kokkaragundi villages with length of growing period (LGP) 150-180 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 Konchigeri micro-watershed (Belhatti subwatershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 61.9 to 38.1 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 68.3 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 73 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 83.3 per cent.  Liquefied petroleum gas is the source of energy for a cooking among 58.3 per cent.  About 58.3 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (58.3 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 58.3 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 91.7 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 2.0 per cent of sample households.  Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevalent among 9.5 per cent of farm households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 50 per cent of households were found. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 2.63 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land of 59.6 % and irrigated land 40.4 % of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 19.5 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 47.6 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 18096 per household. Mobile and television are popular mass media communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 7153 per household, about 25.0 per cent of sample farmers having bullock cart and weeder.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 30000 per household; about 21 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 1190.2 grams (2504.2 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 91.7 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 32531 per household. About 83.3 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs. 1753. 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. 439 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 199024per year for the total area of 479.10 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 2784/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in groundnut (Rs. 14296) followed by maize (Rs. 7735), cotton (Rs. 6392) and greengram (Rs. 3926) and redgram negative returns.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 1969/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in greengram (Rs. 2129) followed by maize (Rs. 1919) and groundnut (Rs. 1857).  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 cotton (Rs. 59710), greengram (Rs. 58820), red gram (Rs. 47063), sunflower (Rs. 25833) and maize (Rs. 22536). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The present dominant crops grown in dry lands in the study area were by maize (87.4 %) followed by groundnut (4.9 %), cotton (4.4 %) and greengram (3.4 %).  In Konchigeri micro-watershed, major soil are Ravanki (RNK) soil series having shallow soil depth covers around 20.35 % of area the major crops are maize. Kutegoudanahundi (KGH) series having moderately shallow soil depth 6.88 % area. The crop is greengram and maize. Muttal (MTL) series having shallow soil depth (3.25 %), the main crop is maize. Mukhadahalli (MKH) series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 5.85 % area, the main crop are maize and redgram. Gollarahatti (GHT) series having moderately deep soil depth cover around (4.04 %), Kanchikere (KKR) series having moderately deep soil depth covers around (7.24 %), Balapur (BPR) and Lakshmanagudda (LGD) series having deep soil depth covers around 3.20 and 6.63 per cent of area respectively, maize is the main crop of both areas.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for maize range between Rs 25504/ha in BGP soil (with BCR of 1.02) and Rs 8502/ha in RNK soil (with BCR of 2.89).  In redgram the cost of cultivation in MKH soil Rs. 40040/ha (with BCR of 0.54).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation in KKR soil Rs.32132/ha (with BCR of 1.50).  In cotton the cost of cultivation Rs. 30658/ha in BPR soil (with BCR of 1.21) and green gram the cost of cultivation Rs.30143/ha in KGH soil (with BCR of 1.20).  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 soil 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. 4  By adopting recommended package of practices by following the soil test fertiliser recommendation, there is scope to increase yield in maize (73.5 to 83.0 %), ground nut (45.6 %), red gram (29.1 %), cotton (13.2 %) and green gram (0.3 %).