LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CHANNAMALLIPURA (4B3E2E2f) MICROWATERSHED Gundlupet Taluk, Chamarajanagara District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Channamallipura 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 622 ha in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagara district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone with an average annual rainfall of 734 mm, of which about 254 mm is received during south-west monsoon, 268 mm during north-east and the remaining 212 mm during the rest of the year. An area of 539 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils and about 84 ha by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 11 soil series and 27 soil phases (management units) and 7 land use class.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from 3rdweek 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 27 major agricultural and horticultural crops was assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 80 percent of area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture and 3 per cent not suitable for agriculture, but, well suited for other alternate use.  About 52 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep to very deep (75 - >150 cm) and 32 per cent soils are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm).  About 33 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 51 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 54 per cent area is non gravelly (<15%) and 29 per cent is gravelly (15- 35%).  About 45 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 9 per cent area low (51-100 mm/m) and 30 per cent area very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 71 per cent area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and 13 per cent area is gently (3-5% slope) to moderately sloping (5-10% slope) lands.  An area of about 62 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 22 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded.  An area of about 32 per cent soils are strongly to slightly acid (pH 5.0-6.5), 16 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction and 36 per cent soil are slightly to moderately alkaline (pH 7.3-8.4).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire area of the microwatershed is dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 22 per cent of the soils are low (<0.5%) in organic carbon, 43 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 19 per cent high (>0.75).  About 38 per cent of the area is low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus, 42 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) and small area of 3 per cent is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 56 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 27 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 45 per cent, medium (10 -20 ppm) in an area of about 37 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in 2 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in an area of about 37per cent, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 44 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 4 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 83 per cent area and deficient (<4.5 ppm) in 1 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 41 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 43 per cent of the soils in the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 27 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 215(35) 120(19) Guava 122(20) 39(6) Maize 131 (21) 44(7) Mango 25(4) 98(16) Redgram 131(21) 193(31) Sapota 122(20) 39(6) Horsegram 131(21) 237(38) Jackfruit 122(20) - Sunflower 47(7) 244(39) Jamun 282(45) - Cotton 206(33) 53(9) Musambi 282(45) 34(6) Beans 122(20) 212(34) Lime 282(45) 34(6) Field beans 122(20) 212(34) Cashew 239(38) 30(5) Onion 122(20) 212(34) Custard apple 282(45) 87(14) Beetroot 122(20) 53(9) Amla 282(45) 87(14) Groundnut 9(1) 196(32) Tamarind 282(45) 30(5) Banana 122(20) 168(27) Marigold 131(21) 233(38) Potato 122(20) 53(9) Chrysanthemum 122(20) 212(34) Turmeric 122(20) 53(9) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the identified LUCs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, 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 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: Channamallipur Microwatershed (Gopalapur sub-watershed, Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar district) is located in between 11045’ – 11047’ North latitudes and 76032’ – 76035’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 622 ha, bounded by Masahalli, Hongahalli, Maddur, Kannigala and Lakkipur 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 eco system services were quantified. Results: The socio-economic outputs for the Channamallipur micro-watershed (Gopalapur sub-watershed, Gundlupet taluk and Chamarajanagar district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 54.9 to 45.1 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 56.8 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 64.7 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 40 per cent.  Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is the source of energy for a cooking among 90 per cent.  About 90 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 70 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 70 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 9.8 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 50 per cent of households. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.30 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land of 39.3 per cent and 2 irrigated land 60.7 per cent of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 52.9 per cent and agriculture is the main agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 45.1 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.10246 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs.71959 per household, about 70 per cent of sample farmers having plough.  The average value of livestock is around Rs.21993 per household; among all sample households are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 642.9 grams (1478.5 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 90 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.54887 per household. About 60 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.1024. 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.573 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 298568 per year for the total area of 622.25 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 25359/ha/year. Per hectare food production services is maximum in turmeric (Rs.45068) followed by onion (Rs. 41159), beans (Rs. 40766), maize (Rs. 37913), bengal gram (Rs. 22624), ginger (Rs. 14589), groundnut (Rs. 1967) and marigold is negative return.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 376/ ha/year in groundnut.  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 beans (Rs. 319783) followed by maize (Rs. 219516), bengal gram (Rs.62255), ginger (Rs. 53384), turmeric (Rs. 41108), groundnut (Rs. 19596) and onion (Rs. 16796). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is turmeric (31.1 %) followed by marigold (15.5 %), horse gram (15.4 %), groundnut (14.8 %), onion (7.9 %), sunflower (5.7 %), bengal gram (3.6 %), ginger (3.0 %) and beans (2.6 %).  In Channamallipur Microwatershed, major soil is Annurkeri (ARK) series is having very deep soil depth cover around 3.9 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing beans (50 %) and marigold (50 %), soil of very dark greyish brown to dark grey and very dark brown clayey soils of Beemanabeedu (BMB) are also having very deep soil depth cover 25.6 % of area, the crops are turmeric (56.8 %), onion (15.1%), beans (10.1 %), marigold (10.1 %), ginger (5.8 %) and maize (2.1 %). Hullipura (HPR) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 7.1 % of areas, crops are groundnut (67.6 %), beans (16.2 %) and marigold (16.2 %). Shivapura (SPR) soil series having shallow soil depth cover around 11.6 % of area, crops are bengal gram (25.2 %), marigold (25.2 %), turmeric (24.8 %) and beans (24.8 %).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for beans ranges between Rs.26324/ha in HPR soil (with BCR of 1.92) and Rs.16994/ha in BMB soil (with BCR of 3.45).  In marigold the cost of cultivation range between Rs 76119/ha in HPR soil (with of 1.1) and Rs.35758/ha in BMB soil (with BCR of 1.64).  In turmeric the cost of cultivation range between Rs.145477 /ha in SPR soil (with BCR of 1.51) and Rs. 99630/ha in BMB soil (with BCR of 1.46).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation in SPR soil is Rs.29730/ha (with BCR of 1.08).  In ginger the cost of cultivation in BMB soil is Rs.85285/ha (with BCR of 1.17).  In maize the cost of cultivation in BMB soil is Rs.82575/ha (with BCR of 1.17) and onion cultivation in BMB soil is Rs 51466/ha (with BCR of 1.8).  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 on deeper soil to maximize returns. Suggestions;  Involving farmers is watershed planning helps in strengthen institutional participation. 4  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 strengthen 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 marigold (24.1 to 29.7 %), onion (74.7 %), bengal gram (38.4 %), ginger (34 %) and maize (27.4 %).