LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DHARJAMGA-1 (4D5B7G1c) MICROWATERSHED Gulbarga Taluk, Gulbarga District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Dharjamga-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 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 830 ha in Dharjamga-1 microwatershed in Gulbarga taluk of Gulbarga district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone with an average annual rainfall of 740 mm, of which about 540 mm is received during south–west monsoon, 126 mm during north-east and the remaining 74 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 9 soil series and 22 soil phases (management units) and 5 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from the 3rd week of May 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 was assessed and maps showing degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 87 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 13 per cent is not suitable for agriculture but well suited for forestry, pasture, agro-forestry, silvi-pasture, recreation, installation of wind mills and as habitat for wildlife.  About 13 per cent of the soils are moderately deep to deep (75-150 cm), 66 per cent are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm) and about 20 per cent are very shallow (<25 cm) soils.  About 97 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface.  About 30 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 66 per cent gravelly to very gravelly soils (15-60 % gravel) and 1 per cent of the area has extremely gravelly soils.  About 3 per cent area is very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity, 41 per cent medium (100-150 mm/m) and about 53 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) and very low (<50 mm/m).  About 78 per cent of the area has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands, about 9 per cent gently (3-5%) sloping lands and 10 per cent moderately sloping (5-10%) lands.  An area of about 6 per cent slightly eroded (e1), 67 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 24 per cent severely eroded (e3).  An area of about 29 per cent has soils that are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3 to 7.8), about 36 per cent moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) and 32 per cent area is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 6 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 91 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of 8 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) and 89 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 77 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha), 20 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) and about 1 per cent low (<145 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 42 per cent area, medium (10-20 ppm) in 51 per cent and 4 per cent high (>20 ppm).  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 39 per cent area, 59 per cent medium (0.5-1.0 ppm).  About 4 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 93 per cent sufficient (>4.5 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  About 56 per cent deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc and 41 per cent sufficient (>0.6 ppm).  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, 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 94 (11) 267 (32) Guava - - Maize - - Jackfruit - - Red gram - 361 (43) Jamun - 23(3) Sunflower 23 (3) 71 (9) Musambi 23 (3) 71(9) Cotton 23 (3) 338 (41) Lime 23 (3) 71(9) Sugarcane - - Cashew - - Soybean 76(9) 285 (34) Custard apple 94 (11) 267(32) Bengalgram 361(43) 282 (34) Amla 94 (11) 267(32) Mango - - Tamarind - 23 (3) Sapota - - Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 5 identified LUCs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fibre and horticulture crops that helps sustained production and also in maintaining the ecological balance in 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, field bunds and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges. 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: Dharjamga-1 Microwatershed (Sonath sub-watershed, Gulbarga taluk, Gulbarga district) is located in between 17037’ – 17039’ North latitudes and 7703’ – 7705’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 830 ha, bounded by Kinhi, Dongaragaon, Bhimnalli, Sonath, Wahadi and Gobbarwadi 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 Dharjamga-1 micro-watershed (Sonath subwatershed, Gulbarga taluk, Gulbarga district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 63.2 to 36.8 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 57.9 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 42.1 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 50.0 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 90 per cent.  About 80.0 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 50 per cent.  Swachha bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 10 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making of agriculture productivity of among the all sample households was found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 0.83 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The total cultivated area by dry land condition among the sample households. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation among 53.1 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 40.6 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 24500 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average livestock value is around Rs. 43600 per household; about 50 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 776.4 grams (1727 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 100 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 41320 per household. About 80 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs. 2294. 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. 2718 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 2190754 per year for the total area of 830.21 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs 22897/ha/year of 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 in red gram (Rs.61122). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is red gram (100 %).  In Dharjamga-1 Micro-watershed, major soil of Basaltic landforms of Margutti series is having very shallow soil depth cover around 5.7 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram, soil of Matki series is having very shallow soil depth cover around 2.8 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram, soil of Novinihal series is having shallow soil depth cover around 30.1% of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram, soil of Bhimanahalli series is having shallow soil depth cover around 3.8 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram, soil of gutti series is having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 4.4% of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram, soil of Kamalapur series is 3 having moderately deep soil depth cover around 8.5 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for red gram ranges between Rs.29890/ha in NHA soil (with BCR of 1.57) and Rs.14968/ha in MGT soil (with BCR of 2.74).  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 red gram (3.6 to 22.4%).