LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KONDAPUR (4D5B1R1f) MICROWATERSHED Sydhapur Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Kondapur 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 352 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 331 ha (94%) in the microwatershed is covered by soils and 20 ha (6%) by others (habitation and water bodies). 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 one land use class.  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 320 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing 29 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 45 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are very deep (>150 cm), 13 per cent soils are deep (100-150 cm) and 36 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm).  About 23 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 71 per cent clayey soils.  Entire area of the microwatershed has non gravelly (<15%) soils at the surface.  About 36 per cent area is medium (101-150 mm/m) and 58 per cent area is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 10 per cent has nearly level (0-1%) and 84 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands in the microwatershed.  An area of about 10 per cent are slightly eroded (e1), 68 per cent are moderately (e2) eroded and 16 per cent area is severely (e3) eroded.  An area of about 13 per cent is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4), 69 per cent is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) and 12 per cent is very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0) in relation.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire area of the microwatershed is <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 23 per cent of soils are low (<0.5%), 28 per cent of soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) and 43 per cent of soils are high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  About 86 per cent area is low (<23 kg/ha), 4 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 4 per cent area is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 45 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 49 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 52 per cent and medium (10 -20 ppm) in 42 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 16 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in an area of 41 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 37 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient (<4.5 ppm) in an area of about 84 per cent and sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 10 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese is sufficient in the entire soils of the microwatershed.  Available copper is sufficient in the entire soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in a maximum area of about 91 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 4 per cent area of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 29 major agricultural and horticultural 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 331(94) - Guava - - Maize - 331(94) Sapota - - Bajra - 331(94) Pomegranate - 331(94) Groundnut - - Musambi 205(58) 126(36) Sunflower 205(58) 126(36) Lime 205(58) 126(36) Redgram - 331(94) Amla 205(58) 126(36) Bengal gram 331(94) - Cashew - - Cotton 205(58) 126(36) Jackfruit - - Chilli - 331(94) Jamun - 205(58) Tomato - - Custard apple 331(94) - Drumstick - 331(94) Tamarind - 205(58) Brinjal - 331(94) Mulberry - - Bhendi - 331(94) Marigold - 331(94) Onion - 47(13) Chrysanthemum - 331(94) Mango - -  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 for 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 for 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. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Kondapur is located at North latitude 160 31’ 17.129” and 160 29’ 33.557” and East longitude 770 16’ 46.336” and 770 15’ 15.084” covering an area of about 351.42 ha coming under Kondapura and Badiyala villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Kondapur micro watersheds of Mungal subwatershed, Yadgir taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 total respondents, 5 (14.29 %) were marginal, 12 (34.29%)were small, 11 (31.43 %) were Semi medium and 1 (2.86 %) were medium and 2 (5.71 %) were large farmers and 4 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 80 (54.05%) men and 68 (45.95 %) were women. The average population of landless was 1.0, marginal farmers were 0.20, small farmers were 0.20, semi medium farmers were 0.21, medium farmers were 1.0 and large farmer were 0.25.  Majority of the respondents (43.24%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 52.03 per cent illiterates, 50.68 per cent pre university education and 3.38 per cent attained graduation.  About, 85.71 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 8.57 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 56.76 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 100.00 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 2.86 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 62.86 per cent possess TV, 14.29 per cent possess mixer grinder, 80.00 per cent possess mobile phones and 20.00 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 28.57 per cent of the households possess plough, 22.86 per cent possess bullock cart and 20.00 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 2.86 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.58, women available in the micro watershed was 1.77, hired labour (men) available was 11.94 and hired labour (women) available was 16.97.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 100.00 per cent (88.39 ha) of the area is under dry condition. 2  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Redgram, Cotton, Greengram, Sorghum and cropping intensity was recorded as 73.42 per cent.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Redgram, Cotton, Greengram and Sorghum was Rs.25254.34, 41845.18, 27374.25 and 29450.24 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.10, 1: 1.00, 1: 0.60 and 1: 0.90 respectively.  Further, 82.86 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 5.71 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 149302.86 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 96445.71 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 1 horticulture trees and 151 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Regarding marketing channels, 94.29 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants.  Further, 94.29 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (85.71%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 88.57 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 100.00 per cent of the households.  piped supply of water was the major source for drinking water for 2.86 per cent of the households followed by bore well water (94.29%).  Electricity was the major source of light for 105.71 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 57.14 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 105.71 per cent of the households possessed BPL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (108.57%), pulses (94.29%) and oilseeds (42.86%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (91.43%) wild animal menace on farm field (88.57%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (88.57%), inadequacy of irrigation water (5.71%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (80.00%), high rate of interest on credit (77.14%), low price for the agricultural commodities (77.14%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (65.71%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (57.14%).