LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CHIKASAVANUR-2 (4D4A3G2b) MICRO WATERSHED Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Chikkasavanur-2 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 474 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 88 per cent is covered by soils, 19 percent is covered by rock lands and three per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 25 soil phases (management units) and 5 land management units.  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 78 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 22 per cent is not suitable for agriculture.  About 69 per cent of the soils are very shallow (<25 cm) to moderately shallow (50- 75 cm) and about 9 per cent are moderately deep (>150 cm) soils.  About 8 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface, 56 per cent loamy soils and 14 per cent of the area has sandy soils at the surface.  About 9 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 55 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel) and 13 per cent very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) soils.  About 78 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) to very low (<50mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 78 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3%) slope lands.  An area of about 48 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 29 per cent moderately eroded (e2).  An area of about 20 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4) and 10 per cent strongly to very strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to >9.0), 22 per cent neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 7 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 65 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) in organic carbon and low (<0.5%) in about 13 per cent.  An area of about 71 per cent low (<23 kg/ha) and 6 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 39 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha), low (<145 kg/ha) in 36 per cent and 10 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in about 21 per cent area and about 57 per cent area is low (<10 ppm).  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 48 per cent area, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 23 per cent area and high (>1.0 ppm) in 6 per cent area.  Available iron is deficient in about 21 per cent area and sufficient in 57 per cent area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  Available zinc is sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 6 per cent and deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 71 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, 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 75(16) 83 (18) Sapota - 41(9) Maize 75(16) 83 (18) Jackfruit - - Cotton - 158(33) Jamun - - Sunflower - 88(19) Musambi - - Onion 41(9) 117 (25) Lime - - Groundnut 41(9) 139(29) Cashew - 41(9) Chilli 41(9) 117(25) Custard apple - 180(39) Sugarca ne 41(9) 139(29) Amla - 69 (14) Pomegran ate - 41(9) Tamarind - - Tomato 41(9) 117 (25) Marigold 41(9) 133(28) Guava - 117 (25) Chrysanthem um 41(9) 133(28) Mango - - Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 5 identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, 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 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: Chikasavanur-2 micro-watershed (Nilogal sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) is located in between 1504’ – 1506’ North latitudes and 75035’ – 75037’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 322 ha, bounded by Fatgoan Badani, Nilogal, Chikasavanur and Devihal villages 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 for each watershed. Results: The socio-economic outputs for the Chikasavanur-2 Microwatershed (Nilogal sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 62.7 to 37.3 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 50.9 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 72.5 per cent.  Social groups belong to scheduled caste (SC) is around 44.4 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 77.8 per cent.  About 44.4 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (66.7 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system among all the sample households.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 33.3 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 7.84 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making is around 58 per cent of households were found. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.61 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The total cultivated land by dry land condition among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 22.2 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 33.3 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 106480 per household. Mobile and television are mass popular mass communication media.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 137948 per household; about 33.3 per cent of sample farmers owen plough and bullock cart.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 32550 per household; about 25 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 819.2 grams (1634.5 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 88.9 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 12537 per household. Among all sample farm households are above poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs. 1114. 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. 467 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 171969 per year for the total area of 474.16 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food production is around Rs. 20433/ ha/year. Per hectare food production services is maximum in lemon (Rs. 415454) followed by horse gram (Rs. 9228), sunflower (Rs. 5480), cowpea (Rs. 3575), Ragi (Rs. 1356) and sorghum negative returns.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 2213/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize greengram (Rs 2687) followed by sorghum (Rs. 1976) and maize (Rs. 1976).  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. 49758), sorghum (Rs. 37643), greengram (Rs. 37317), sunflower (Rs. 33256) and maize (Rs. 21598). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is maize (65.9 %) followed by greengram (17.4 %), cotton (8.4 %), sorghum (5.6 %) and sunflower (2.8 %).  In Chikasavanur-2 micro-watershed, major soil are soil of alluvial landscape of Chikasavanur (CRS) and Kanchanahali (KNH) soil series are having shallow soil depth covered around 20.59 per cent and 9.61 per cent of areas respectively. On the soil farmers growing crops are maize and cotton. Kutegoudanahundi (KGH) series are having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 18.07 per cent of areas; crops on greengram (38%), maize (44%), sorghum (12 %) and sunflower (6%).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for sunflower Rs.57747/ha in KGH soil (with BCR of 1.20).  In cotton the cost of cultivation Rs. 34446/ha in KGH soil (with BCR of 1.47).  In maize the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs. 32642/ha in KGH soil (with BCR of 1.05) and Rs.17944/ha in CRS soil (with BCR of 81.34).  In greengram the cost of cultivation Rs. 19891/ha in KGH soil (with BCR of 1.17) and sorghum the cost of cultivation Rs 21936/ha in KGH soil (with BCR of 1.10).  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 maize (71.5 to 81.8 %), cotton (56.0 %), sorghum (83.9 %), green gram (27.7 %), sunflower (38.5 %).