LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT RAMPURA-1 (4D5B1P2a) MICROWATERSHED Sydhapur Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Rampura-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 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 537 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 530 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 1 ha by rock outcrops and about 7 ha by others (water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 12 soil series and 24 soil phases (management units) and 5 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 250 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing 26 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 42 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep to very deep (75 - >150 cm) and 56 per cent soils are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm).  About 43 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils, 17 per cent sandy and 39 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 69 per cent area in the microwatershed is non gravelly (<15%) and 29 per cent gravelly (15-35%).  About 36 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 15 per cent is medium (101-150 mm/m), 46 per cent area is low (51-100 mm/m) and 1 per cent area is very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity.  Entire area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  An area of about 76 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded and 23 per cent area is severely (e3) eroded.  An area of about 14 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction, 53 per cent soils are slightly to moderately alkaline (pH 7.3-8.4) and 26 per cent soils are strongly alkaline (8.4 - 9.0) and 6 per cent very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0)  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire area of the microwatershed is dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are nonsaline.  About 26 per cent of the soils are low (<0.5%) in organic carbon, 58 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 15 per cent high (>0.75).  About 70 per cent area is low in available phosphorus, 24 per area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 4 per cent is high (>57 kg/ha).  About 88 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in available potassium and 10 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha).  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 92 per cent and medium (10 -20 ppm) in 7 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 39 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in an area of 54 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 5 per cent area.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 97 per cent area and deficient in 2 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 the entire area of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 26 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 - 525(98) Sapota 8(1) 17(3) Maize 8 (1) 266(49) Pomegranate 8(1) 218(41) Bajra 8(1) 467(87) Musambi 8(1) 217(41) Groundnut 8(1) 191(35) Lime 8(1) 218(41) Sunflower 8(1) 218(41) Amla 8(1) 516(96) Redgram - 226(42) Cashew 8(1) - Bengal gram - 517(96) Jackfruit 8(1) 17(3) Cotton - 516(96) Jamun 8(1) 213(40) Chilli 8(1) 467(87) Custard apple 8(1) 517(96) Tomato 8(1) 266(49) Tamarind 8(1) 213(40) Drumstick 8(1) 218(41) Mulberry 8(1) 17(3) Mango 8(1) 17(3) Marigold 8(1) 517(96) Guava 8(1) 17(3) Chrysanthemum 8(1) 517(96)  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 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 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: Ramapura-1 micro-watershed (Yadgir taluk and district) is located in between 16033’ – 16035’ North latitudes and 77016’ – 77018’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 537.39 ha, bounded by Ramapura and Balacheda villages with a length growing period (LGP) 60-90 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 Ramapura-1 micro-watershed in Yadgir taluk and district are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 57.3 to 42.7 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 group of population is around 55.3 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 50.4 per cent.  Social groups belong to scheduled caste / scheduled tribes are around 36.6 per cent  Fire wood is the main source of energy for a cooking among all sample households.  About 20.0 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Sample farm households (16.6 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employments.  Dependence on ration cards through public distribution system is around 93.4 per cent  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 46.6 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 93.4 per cent of households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.7 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The accounted for dry land of 95.3 per 2 cent and irrigated land of 4.7 per cent among the total cultivated land of sample households.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 28.4 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is predominant subsidiary occupation for 44.0 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 76127 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 6681 per household, about 50.0 per cent of sample farmers are owing plough.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 25722 per household; about 85.7 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 988.8 grams (2563.1 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition recommendation at 827 gram. Around 10.0 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 30942 per household. About 83.4 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs. 3331. 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 1427.4 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs.756541 per year for the total area of 537.4 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 4780/ ha/year. Per hectare food production services is maximum in green gram (Rs.7997) followed by maize (Rs.5141), cotton (Rs. 3892), red gram (Rs.3465) and groundnut (Rs.3401).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 1421/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 2500) followed by groundnut (Rs. 941) and paddy (Rs. 823).  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 greengram (Rs. 59702) followed by red gram (Rs. 47583), cotton (Rs. 43124), maize (Rs. 22638) and groundnut (Rs. 19906). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is red gram (46.7 %) followed by cotton (27.5 %), groundnut (15.4 %), bengal gram (4.9 %), paddy (2.4 %), green gram (1.6 %) and maize (1.63 %).  In Ramapura-1 micro watershed, major soils are soil of alluvial landscape of Yalleri (YLR) series are having moderately shallow soil deep cover around 7.7 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently grow in cotton (60.0 %) and redgram (40.0 %). Soil of granite and granite gneiss landscape of Anur (ANR) are also having deep soil cover around 9.0 % of area, the crops are cotton (33.3 %), redgram (66.7 %). Bomraldoddi (BMD) soil series have very deep soil depth cover around 1.49 % of areas; crops are cotton (100%). Hegganakera (HGN) soil series are having very deep depth cover around 18.86 per cent of area, respectively. The major crops grown are cotton (15.1 %), groundnut (17.6 %) and redgram (67.3 %). Halagera (HLG) soil series are having moderately shallow soil depth covers around 24.6 % of area, the major crop grown is cotton (12.5 %), groundnut (25 %), and redgram (62.5 %). Jinkera (JNK) soil series having moderately shallow depth covers around 13.9 % of area, the major crop grown is cotton (69.2 %) and redgram (30.8 %). Mylapura (MYP) soil series having very deep and soil depth covers around 6.24 % of area; crops are cotton (12.5 %), greengram (12.5 %), maize (12.5 %) and redgram (62.5 %). Rachanalli (RHN) soil series having moderately deep and soil depth covers around 1.0 % of areas; crop are groundnut (46.2%), paddy (23.1%) and redgram (30.8%). Rampur (RMP) soil series havingg moderately shallow and soil depth covers around 9.3 % of areas crops are cotton and Sowrashtrahalli (SWR) soil series having deep and soil depth covers around 2.31 % of area crops are cotton.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit ratio (BCR) in study area for cotton ranges between Rs. 62452/ha in ANR soil (with BCR of 1.05) and Rs.22024/ha in HLG soil (with BCR of 1.5).  In redgram the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs.52871/ha in YLR soil (with BCR of 1.12) and Rs.21599/ha in HLG soil (with BCR of 1.07).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs.33168/ha in HLG soil (with BCR of 1.02) and Rs. 13831/ha in RHN soil (with BCR of 1.63).  In greengram the cost of cultivation in MYP soil is Rs.33499/ha (with BCR of 1.24).  In maize the cost of cultivation is Rs.35613/ha in MYP soil (with BCR of 1.14) and paddy the cost of cultivation in RHN soil is Rs.20967/ha (with BCR of 1.06).  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 4 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 soils 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 (19 to 55 %), redgram (9.1 to 58.4 %), groundnut (7.4 to 30.6 %), paddy (70%), maize (67.4 %) and greengram negative return.