LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT GURALGUNTA (4D2D6O1a) MICROWATERSHED Balichakra Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Guralgunta 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 580 ha in Yadgir taluk & district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone with an average annual rainfall of 866 mm, of which about 652 mm is received during south-west monsoon, 138 mm during north-east and the remaining 76 mm during the rest of the year. An area of 570 ha (98%) in the microwatershed is covered by soils and about 10 ha by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 14 soil series and 17 soil phases (management units) and 8 Land Management Units.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from 1st week of June to 4th 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 26 major agricultural and horticultural crops was assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  Entire area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 55per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep to very deep (75 - >150 cm) and 43 per cent soils are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm).  About 41 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils, 54 per cent clayey soils, 3 per cent are sandy at the surface.  About 97 per cent area of the microwatershed is non gravelly (<15%) and 1 per cent gravelly (15-35%) at the surface.  About 22 per cent area of the microwatershed is very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity, 24 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) and 52 per cent area is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  Entire area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  Entire area is moderately (e2) eroded.  An area of about 15 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction, 39 per cent soils are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 31 per cent soils are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 - 8.4) and 14 per cent soils are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire area of the microwatershed is dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are nonsaline.  About 2 per cent of soils are low (<0.5%), 50 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) and 46 per cent soils are high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  About 83 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 16 per cent area is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 98 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and less than 1 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 61 per cent, 35 per cent of the soils are medium (10 -20 ppm) and high (>20 ppm) in 2 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 51 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in an area of 40 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 8 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient (<4.5 ppm) in an area of about 33 per cent and sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in an area of 65 per cent.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 26 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, 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 1(0.13) 430(73) Sapota - 15(3) Maize 1(0.13) 124(21) Pomegranate - 322(64) Bajra 1(0.13) 444(77) Musambi 187(33) 135(24) Groundnut - 58(9) Lime 187(33) 135(24) Sunflower - 308(53) Amla 1(0.13) 429(74) Redgram - 322(55) Cashew - 1(0.13) Bengal gram 187(32) 245(42) Jackfruit - 1(0.13) Cotton 187(32) 244(42) Jamun - 316(54) Chilli - 381(66) Custard apple 188(32) 242(42) Tomato 1(0.13) 138(24) Tamarind - 316(54) Drumstick - 322(55) Mulberry - 1(0.13) Mango - - Marigold - 446(76) Guava - 15(3) Chrysanthemum - 446(76)  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, fibre and other 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 and generate lot of biomass which would help 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: Guralgunta micro-watershed (Yadgir taluk and district) is located in between 16036’ – 16038’ North latitudes and 770 18’ – 77020’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 579.68 ha, bounded by Gudalagunta, Madhawara, Sambara and Neelahalli 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 Guralgunta micro-watershed in Yadgiri taluk and district are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 56.2 to 43.8 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age group 18 to 50 of population is around 60.56 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 51.9 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) are around 51.1 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among all sample households.  About 23.4 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 17.02 per cent farm households having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 95.74 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 31.91 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 59.6 per cent of households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 2.11 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The account for dry land of 99.10 ha among the total cultivated land among the sample households. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation is only 26.7 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 36.4 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.68834 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs.110163 per household, about 63.8 per cent of sample farmers are owing plough.  The average value of livestock is around Rs.22533 per household; about 83.56 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 829.2 grams (1930.5 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition recommendation at 827 gram. Around 51 per cent of sample households are consuming more than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 28666 per household. About 100 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs.2337. 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 average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. Rs.7421/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in castor (Rs.27044) followed by groundnut (Rs.12645), paddy (Rs.8306), cotton (Rs. 6273), red gram (Rs. 5098), sorghum (Rs. 657), maize (Rs. 158) and greengram is a negative returns.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 2076/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 4355) followed by sorghum (Rs. 2470), paddy (Rs.1067) and groundnut (Rs. 412).  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 value of per hectare water used and value of water was maximum in castor (Rs.95000) followed by green gram (Rs.76760), redgram (Rs. 50465), cotton (Rs. 46165), paddy (Rs. 40001), groundnut (Rs. 35830), sorghum (Rs. 33879) and maize (Rs. 26734). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is redgram (55.8 %) followed by cotton (19.2 %), paddy (6.9 %), groundnut (4.2 %), maize (3.2 %), bengalgram (2.8%) and greengram (0.9 %). 3  The total cost of cultivation in study area for cotton ranges between Rs.54130/ha in small farmers (with BCR of 1.15) and Rs.42145/ha in large farmers (with BCR of 1.09).  In maize the cost of cultivation range between Rs.75798/ha in small farmers (with BCR of 1.03) and Rs.40397/ha in marginal farmers (with BCR of 1.07).  In red gram the cost of cultivation range between Rs.46222/ha in marginal farmers (with BCR of 1.12) and Rs.12089/ha in large farmers (with BCR of 1.63).  In castor the cost of cultivation is Rs.52756/ha in small farmers (with BCR of 1.51).  In greengram the cost of cultivation is Rs.45273/ha in small farmers (with BCR of 1.09).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation range between is Rs.51484/ha in small farmers (with BCR of 1.61) and Rs.31198/ha in semi medium farmers (with BCR of 1.12).  In paddy the cost of cultivation range between Rs.52937/ha in large farmers (with BCR of 1.21) and Rs.24122/ha in medium farmers (with BCR of 1.16).  In sorghum the cost of cultivation is Rs.21573/ha in medium farmers (with BCR of 1.14).  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 cotton (22.28 to 42.2 %), groundnut (27.7 % to 54.6 %), maize (67.3 to 78.42 %), paddy (36.7 to 82.3 %), redgram (5.32 % to 63.1 %) and sorghum (60.4 %).