LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEVIHAL-4 (4D4A3G1c) MICRO WATERSHED Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Devihal-4 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 325 ha in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone with an average annual rainfall of 633 mm, of which about 363 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 165 mm during north-east and the remaining 105 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 85 per cent is covered by soils and 15 per cent is covered by rock lands and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 8 soil series and 18 soil phases (management units) and 7 land use classess.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 3rd week of June to 1st 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 the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 79 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 21 per cent is not suitable for agriculture.  About 60 per cent of the soils are shallow (25-50 cm) to moderately shallow (50-75 cm) and about 24 per cent are moderately deep (75-100 cm) to very deep (>150 cm) soils.  About 82 per cent of the area has loamy soils at the surface and 3 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface.  About 12 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 41 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel), 26 per cent very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) soils and 5% of the soils are extremely gravelly.  About 71 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) to very low (<50mm/m) and 13 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 73 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3%) slope, 3 per cent area has gently sloping (3-5%), 5 per cent moderately sloping (5-10%) lands and 3 per cent nearly level (0-1%) lands.  An area of about <1 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 78 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 6 per cent of the area severely eroded.  An area of about 8 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 20 per cent slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 53 per cent neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 3 per cent slightly acid (pH 6.0-6.5).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 29 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%), 37 per cent high and 19 per cent low in organic carbon.  An area of about 85 per cent low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  Available potassium content is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in an area of about 85 per cent in microatershed area  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in about 42 per cent, low (<10 ppm) in 39 per cent and high in 4 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 29 per cent area and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 56 per cent area.  Available iron is deficient in about 21 per cent and sufficient in 63 per cent area.  Available manganese is sufficient in the entire microwatershed area.  Available copper is sufficient in the entire microwatershed area.  Available zinc is sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 11 per cent and deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 74 per cent area of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 23 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 37(11) 58(18) Sapota 9(3) 62(19) Maize 37(11) 58(18) Jackfruit 9(3) 34(10) Cotton 43(13) 52(16) Jamun 9(3) 34(10) Sunflower 43(13) 52(16) Musambi 9(3) 34(10) Onion 71(22) 24(7) Lime 9(3) 34(10) Groundnut 71(22) 165(51) Cashew 9(3) 71(23) Chilli 71(22) 24(7) Custard apple 43(13) 193(59) Sugarcane 43(13) 28(9) Amla 43(13) 193(59) Pomegranate 43(13) 28(9) Tamarind 9(3) 34(10) Tomato 71(22) 24 (7) Marigold 71(22) 33(10) Guava 43(13) - Chrysanthemum 71(22) 33(10) Mango 9(3) 34(10) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 7 identified LUCs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fibre 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 that would help in supplementing the income, provide fodder and fuel and generate lot of biomass. This helps in maintaining an ecological balance and also helps in 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: Devihal-4 micro-watershed (Nilogal sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) is located in between 1507’ – 1508’ North latitudes and 75037’ – 75038’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 325 ha, bounded by Majjur village on north, Chabbi, Devihal village on the west, Rantur village on the east with a 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 Devihal-4 Microwatershed (Nilogal subwatershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 57.9 and 42.1 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 54.3 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 77.2 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 90.0 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 80.0 per cent.  About 40.0 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (90%) are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 70.0 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 60.0 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making for agriculture production among all sample households was found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.5 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land account for 66.4 per cent 2 and irrigated land 33.6 per cent of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 7.7 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 84.6 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 14930 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 80401 per household, about 31.0 per cent of sample farmers having plough and sprayer (20 %).  The average value of livestock is around Rs.21766 per household; about 75.5 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 725.5 grams (1552.9 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 80.0 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs .23559 per household. About all sample farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs.1510. 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. 1494 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 407982 per year for the total area of 325.11 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 6742/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in sunflower (Rs. 9893) followed by maize (Rs. 5512) and cotton (Rs. 4820).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 1162/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 2017) and cotton (Rs. 308).  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. 43480) followed by sunflower (Rs. 337) and maize (Rs. 122). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is maize (75.2 %) followed by cotton (10.0 %) and sunflower (10.8 %).  In Devihal 4 Microwatershed, major soil is Kaggalipura (KGP) soil series having shallow soil depth cover around 6.0 % of area. On this soil farmers are 3 presently growing cotton (20 %) and maize (80 %). Lakkipur (LKR) soil series is also having moderately shallow soil depth cover 40.4 % of area, the crops are maize. Tammadahalli (TDH) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 7.35 % of area, crops are maize. Chikkamegheri (CKM) soil series having soil moderately shallow depth cover around 8.59 % of areas, crops are cotton (33 %) and maize (67 %). Kumchahalli (KMH) soil series having deep soil depth cover 10.48 % of areas; crops are maize (65 %), sunflower (35 %). Ranatur (RTR) soil series having very deep soil depth cover 2.28 % of areas; crops are bengal gram (17.4 %), maize (33.4 %) and sorghum (49.2 %). Murlapur (MLR) soil series having very deep soil depth cover 14.9 % of areas the crops is maize.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for cotton ranges between Rs. 32508 /ha in KGP soil (with BCR of 1.14) and Rs. 17208/ha in CKM soil (with BCR of 1.41).  In maize the cost cultivation is range between Rs. 38586/ha in RTR soil (with of 1.02) and Rs.15126/ha in CKM soil (with BCR of 1.77).  In sunflower the cost of cultivation in KMH soil is Rs. 19527/ha (with BCR of 1.51).  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 cotton (45.9 to 45.9 %), maize (79.2 to 70.5 %) and sunflower (54.8 %).