LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DARGAH-3 (4D5B3L2a) MICROWATERSHED Chitapur Taluk, Gulbarga District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Dargah-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 the 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, behavior and use potentials of the soils in the microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 465 ha in Chitapur taluk of Gulbarga district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought prone with an average annual rainfall of 762 mm of which about 571mm is received during south –west monsoon, 99 mm during north-east and the remaining 92 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 99 per cent is covered by soils, one per cent by water bodies and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 3 soil series and 5 soil phases (management units) and 2 Land Use Classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from 2nd week of June to 3rd 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 was assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 99 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 1 per cent is not suitable for agriculture.  About 40 per cent of the soils are moderately deep to deep (75-150 cm) and 60 per cent of the soils are very deep (>150cm).  About 99 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface.  About 99 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils.  About 88 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity and 11 per cent medium (100-150 mm/m).  About 99 per cent of the area has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 33 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 66 per cent moderately eroded (e2).  An area of about 57 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 43 per cent strongly to very strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to >9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 84 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%), 11 per cent high (>0.75%) and 4 per cent low (<0.5%) in organic carbon.  Major area of 99 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorous.  About 99 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 42 per cent area, medium (10-20 ppm) in 47 per cent and 11 per cent high (>20 ppm).  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 46 per cent area, 42 per cent medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) and 11 per cent high (>1.0 ppm).  Available iron is deficient (<4.5 ppm) in about 0.14 per cent area and 99 per cent sufficient (>4.5 ppm).  Available manganese is sufficient (>1.0 ppm) in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available copper is sufficient (>0.2 ppm) in all the soils of the microwatershed.  About 2 per cent area has soils that are sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in available zinc and about 452 ha (97%) area is deficient.  The land suitability for 19 major crops grown in the microwatershed was 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, market 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 319(68) 145(31) Sapota - 464(99) Maize - - Jackfruit - - Redgram 114 (24) 349(75) Jamun - 464(99) Sunflower 319 (68) 145(31) Musambi 410(88) 54(11) Cotton 319 (68) 145(31) Lime 410(88) 54(11) Sugarcane - - Cashew - - Soybean 319 (68) 145(31) Custard apple 464(99) - Bengal gram 465(99) - Amla 464(99) - Guava - 464(99) Tamarind - 464(99) Mango - - Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the two identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fiber 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, field bunds and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges. This would help in not only supplementing the farm income but also provide fodder and fuel, generate lot of biomass which helps in maintaining an ecological balance and also contribute to mitigating the climate change. 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: Dargah-3 Microwatershed (Invi sub-watershed, Chitapur taluk, Gulbarga district) is located in between 17012’ – 17014’ North latitudes and 7704’ – 7707’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 465 ha, bounded by Tonsanhalli, Mudbol, Mulkod, Belgumpa and Gundagurthi 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 Dargah-3 Microwatershed (Invi sub-watershed, Chitapur taluk, Gulbarga district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 61.8 to 38.2 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 49.1 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 89.1 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) among all sample households.  Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is the source of energy for a cooking among 60.0 per cent.  About 40.0 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Around 30.0 percent of farm households are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 90.0 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 70.0 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making for agriculture production was found. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 2.09 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The total cultivated area by dry land condition among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 32.4 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 35.3 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 128017 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 108399 per household, about 70 per cent of sample farmers having bullock cart.  The average value of livestock is around Rs.36667 per household; about 33.3 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 976.5 grams (2202.14 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 60.0 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 53513 per household. About 40.0 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.2045. 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. 927 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 430021 per year for the total area of 463.98 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 19591/ha/year in red gram.  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 red gram (Rs.56126). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is redgram (100 %).  In Dergah-3 Microwatershed, major soils are soil of Dargah (DRG) series is having deep soil depth cover around 28.05 % of area. On this soil farmers are 3 presently growing red gram (100 %) and Dandothi (DDT) are also having very deep soil depth cover 60.08 % of area, the crops are red gram (100 %).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for red gram range between Rs. 24975/ha in DRG soil (with BCR of 2.23) and Rs 22079/ha in DDT soil (with BCR of 2.29).  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.  By adopting recommended package of practices by following the soil test fertiliser recommendation, there is scope to increase yield in redgram (12.4%).