LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT NILAHALLI -3 (4D5B1O2e) MICROWATERSHED Balichakra Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Nilahalli-3 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 409 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 320 ha (78%) in the microwatershed is covered by soils and about 89 ha (22%) by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 19 soil phases (management units) and 6 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 37 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep to very deep (75 - >150 cm) and 41 per cent soils are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm).  About 43 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils, 27 per cent clayey soils and 9 per cent are sandy at the surface.  About 65per cent area of the microwatershed has non gravelly (<15%) and 13 per cent gravelly (15-35%) soils at the surface.  About 5 per cent area of the microwatershed is very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity, 36 per cent low (51-100 mm/m), 2 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 34 per cent area is very high (>200 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 are moderately (e2) eroded and 3 per cent area is severely (e3) eroded.  An area of about 4 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction, 13 per cent soils are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 31 per cent soils are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 - 8.4), 25 per cent soils are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) and 5 per cent soils are 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 22 per cent of soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) and 57 per cent of soils are high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  About4 per cent area is low (<23 kg/ha), 66 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 8 per cent area is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 26 per cent is low (<145 kg/ha), 47 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 5 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 14 per cent, 31 per cent of the soils are medium (10 -20 ppm) and high (>20 ppm) in 33 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 8 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in an area of 35 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 35 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Entire area in the microwatershed is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in available iron.  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 agricultural and horticultural 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 - 298(73) Sapota - - Maize - 147(36) Pomegranate - 152(36) Bajra - 298(72) Musambi - 152(37) Groundnut - 78(19) Lime - 152(37) Sunflower - 151(37) Amla - 298(73) Redgram - 127(31) Cashew - - Bengal gram 24 (6) 274(67) Jackfruit - - Cotton 24 (6) 274(67) Jamun - 142(34) Chilli - 298(72) Custard apple - 298(73) Tomato - 147(36) Tamarind - 142(34) Drumstick - 151(36) Mulberry - - Mango - - Marigold - 298(72) Guava - - Chrysanthemum - 298(72)  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 Nilahalli-3 is located at North latitude 160 38’ 0.588” and 160 36' 23.07" and East longitude 770 16’ 25.108'' and 770 14’ 47.381” covering an area of about 409.04 ha coming under Neelahalli, Kudlura and Killanakera Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Nilahalli-3 micro watersheds of Kilankeri subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 farmers were sampled in Nilahalli-3 micro-watershed among households surveyed 4 (11.43%) were marginal, 15 (42.86%) were small, 14 (40.00 %) were semi medium and 1 (2.86 %) were medium farmers. 1 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 102 (59.30%) men and 69 (40.12 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4, marginal farmers were 5.3, small farmers were 4.9, semi medium farmers were 4.9 and medium farmers were 4.  Majority of the respondents (45.93%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 51.74 per cent illiterates, 1.74 percent were functional literates, 43.01 per cent pre university education and 3.49 per cent attained graduation.  About, 94.29 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 5.71 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 58.72 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 88.57 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 0.00 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 77.14 per cent possess TV, 62.86 per cent possess mixer grinder, 88.57 per cent possess mobile phones and 28.57 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 57.14 per cent of the households possess plough and 17.14 per cent possess bullock cart.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 20.00 per cent possess local cow and 2.86 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own men and women labour availability in the micro watershed was 9.92 each, while the hired labour (men) availability was 1.34.  Further, 2.86 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season. 2  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 66.26 per cent (53.61 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 24.38 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 9.00 live bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 25.71 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Groundnut cropping intensity was recorded as 96.53 per cent.  Out of the sample households 2.86 percent possessed bank account and 2.86 per cent of them have savings in the account.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 100.00 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton and Groundnut was Rs.23410.27 , 26041.35 and 56704.52 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.50, 1: 1.90 and 1: 1.24 respectively.  Further, 5.71 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. 81817.14 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 55431.43 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 4 horticulture trees and 106 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 8428.57 for land development and Rs. 1000.00 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 5.71 per cent depends on own funds and 60.00 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 82.86 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants.  Further, 85.71 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (68.57%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 82.86 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 was the major source for drinking water for 94.29 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 97.14 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100.00 per cent of the households possessed BPL card. 3  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (97.14%), pulses (77.14%) and oilseeds (14.29%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (85.71%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (82.86%), inadequacy of irrigation water (2.86%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (80.00%), high rate of interest on credit (5.71%), low price for the agricultural commodities (85.71%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (65.71%), inadequate extension services (2.86%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (60.00%).