LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEVIHAL-1 (4D4A3G1d) MICRO WATERSHED Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Devihal-1 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 473 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 91 per cent is covered by soils and nine per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 16 soil series and 37 soil phases (mapping units) and 10 land use classes.  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 89 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 11% is not suitable for agriculture.  About 61 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) to shallow (25-50 cm) and about 29 per cent are moderately deep to very deep (75->150 cm) soils.  About 62 per cent of the area has loamy soils at the surface, 16 per cent of the soils are sandy at the surface and 10 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface.  About 14 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 65 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel), 10 per cent very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) and one per cent extremely gravelly (60-80%) soils.  About 18 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m), 72 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) to very low (<50mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 73 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3%), 14 per cent nearly level (14%), two per cent gently sloping (3-5%) and one per cent moderately sloping (5- 10%) lands.  An area of about 32 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 55 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 3 per cent severely eroded (e3).  An area of about 20 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 14 per cent slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-8.4), 20 per cent moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4), 18 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 9.0), 29 per cent neutral (pH 6.5 -7.3) and 9 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 25 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%), 47 per cent high (>0.75%) and 18 per cent low (<0.5%) in organic carbon  An area of about 90 per cent low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus and <1 per cent medium (23- 57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 75 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha), low (<145 kg/ha) in 15 per cent and <1 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in about 45 per cent, about 41 per cent area is low (<10 ppm) and 4 per cent high (>20 ppm) in available sulphur.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 47 per cent area, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 42 per cent area and high (>1.0 ppm) in 1 per cent area.  Available iron is deficient in about 26 per cent area and sufficient in 64 per cent area.  Available manganese is sufficient in the entire microwatershed area.  Available zinc and copper are sufficient in entire microwatershed area.  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 79 (17) 139 (30) Sapota 34 (7) 79 (17) Maize 79 (17) 139(30) Jackfruit 27 (6) 20(4) Cotton 40 (8) 179(38) Jamun 27 (6) 20 (4) Sunflower 40 (8) 158(33) Musambi 27 (6) 20 (4) Onion 97 (21) 121(25) Lime 27(6) 20 (4) Groundnut 53 (11) 180(59) Cashew 27 (6) 64 (13) Chilli 59 (12) 160(34) Custard apple 40 (8) 293(62) Sugarcane 40 (8) 95(20) Amla 40 (8) 293 (62) Pomegranate 40 (8) 74 (16) Tamarind 27 (6) 20(4) Tomato 104 (22) 114(24) Marigold 104 (22) 137 (28) Guava 33 (7) 81 (17) Chrysanthemum 104(22) 137 (28) Mango 27 (6) 20 (4) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 10 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 and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges that would help in supplementing the income, provide fodder and fuel, generate lot of biomass, of which would help in maintaining ecological balance and help in mitigating 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-1 micro-watershed (Nilogal sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) is located in between 1506’ – 1508’ North latitudes and 75036’ – 75038’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 473 ha, bounded by Chabbi, Majjur, Rantur, Devihal and Belhatti villages with 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-1 Microwatershed (Nilogal subwatershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) district are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 49.0 to 51.0 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 59 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 82 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 80 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 80.0 per cent.  About 40 per cent of households have a Yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (80 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employments.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 90 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 70 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 4 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 90 per cent of households. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.07 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The dry land of 67 % and irrigated land 32 % of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation among 20 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 70.0 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.18485 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 165730 per household, about 70 per cent of sample farmers own plough and sprayer (30 %).  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 33876 per household; about 86 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 895.7 grams (1920 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 30 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.56756 per cent household. About 90 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.1338. 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.1033 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 441031 per year for the total area of 471.44 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 52205/ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in onion (Rs. 205703) followed by maize (Rs. 3228), horse gram (Rs. 2516) and sorghum is negative returns.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 2288 ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 2470) followed by horse gram (Rs. 2253) and sorghum (Rs. 2141).  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 bengal gram (Rs. 62545) followed by green gram (Rs. 33122), sunflower (Rs. 27713), maize (Rs. 23651), groundnut (Rs. 22905) and sorghum (Rs. 18626). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is sorghum maize (71 %) followed by onion (12%), horse gram (9.0 %) and sorghum (8.0%)  In Devihal 1 micro-watershed, major soil are soil of alluvial landscape of Vaddarahalli (VDH) series is having deep soil depth cover around 1.5 % of 3 area; on this soil farmers are presently growing maize followed by Hooradhahalli (HDH) series is having moderately deep soil depth cover around 4.8 % of area, presently crop growing horse gram (18.8 %), maize (53.7 %) and sorghum (27.6 %), Kanchikere (KKR) series are having moderately deep soil depth cover around 9.6 % of area; crop is horse gram. Thammadahalli (TDH) series is having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 12.2 % of area; on this soil farmers are presently growing onion. Kumchahalli (KMH) series is having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 1.14 per cent area crops is maize, Honnenahalli (HNH) series is having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 5.4 % of area the crops is maize and Harve (HRV) series is having shallow soil depth cover around 3.6 % of area of presently growing crops is maize.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for maize ranges between Rs. 49607/ha in VDH soil (with BCR of 1.03) and Rs. 20866/ha in HRV soil (with BCR of 1.41).  In onion the cost of cultivation Rs. 49814/ha in TDH soil (with BCR of 5.13).  In horse gram the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 26315/ha in KKR soil (with BCR of 1.08) and Rs. 13344/ha in HDH soil (with BCR of 1.56).  In sorghum the cost of cultivation is Rs.14976/ha in HDH soil (with BCR of 0.97).  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 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 onion (30.2 %), maize (77.4 to 58.3%), horse gram (44.7 to 12.7 %), and sorghum (70.7 %).