LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KILANKERA-2 (4D5B1O1f) MICROWATERSHED Balichakra Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Kilankeri-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 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 428 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 384 ha (90%) in the microwatershed is covered by soils and about 44 ha by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 8 soil series and 16 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 78 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep to very deep (75 - >150 cm) and 13 per cent soils are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm).  About 24 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils, 53 per cent clayey soils and 13 per cent are sandy at the surface.  Entire area of the microwatershed has non gravelly (<15%) soils at the surface.  About 7 per cent area of the microwatershed is very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity, 12 per cent low (51-100 mm/m), 10 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 61 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 is moderately (e2) eroded and 13 per cent is severely eroded (e3).  An area of about 7 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 10 per cent soils are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 45 per cent soils are moderately alkaline (7.8-8.4), 22 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 5 per cent of the soils are low (<0.5%), 64 per cent are medium (0.5- 0.75%) and 21 per cent soils are high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  About 3 per cent area is low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus, 71 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 16 per cent is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorous.  About 3 per cent area is low (<145 kg/ha) in available potassium, 71 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 16 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha).  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 26 per cent, medium (10 -20 ppm) in 60 per cent area and high (>20 ppm) in 4 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in an area of 73 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 17 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Entire area in the microwatershed has 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  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the identified LUCs 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 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 and drainage line treatment plans have 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: The Kilankeri-2 micro-watershed (Yadgir taluk and district) is located in between 16037’ – 16039’ North latitudes and 77014’ – 77016’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 426.72 ha, bounded by Kilanakera village with length of growing period (LGP) 120-150 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 Kilankeri-2 micro-watershed in Yadgir taluk and district are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 62 to 38 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age group 18 to 50 of population is around 59.4 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 55.7 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) are around 31.4 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among all sample households.  About 22 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 17 per cent farm households having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 94 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 11 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 66.67 per cent of households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.6 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The account for dry land of 13.67 ha among the total cultivated land among the sample households. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation is only 6.8 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 44.7 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 42585 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 88746 per household, about 20 per cent of sample farmers are owing plough.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 51786 per household; about 25.71 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 486 grams (2651.2 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition recommendation at 827 gram. Around 47 per cent of sample households are consuming more than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 34983 per household. About 100 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs. 2273. 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 average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. Rs. 39285/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in paddy (Rs. 59848) followed by greengram (Rs.44806), groundnut (Rs. 39855), red gram (Rs. 33290) and sorghum (Rs. 18627).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 900/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in paddy (Rs. 1482) followed by groundnut (Rs. 1029) and sorghum (Rs.188).  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 value of per hectare water used and value of water was maximum in greengram (Rs. 67432) followed by paddy (Rs. 47522), red gram (Rs. 46334), groundnut (Rs. 30063) and sorghum (Rs. 26469). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is redgram (59.1 %) followed by sorghum (14.2 %), groundnut (9.5 %), green gram (4.0 %) and paddy (3.8 %) which was taken during Kharif season and sorghum (4.7 %), redgram (3.3 %) and green gram (1.4 %).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area of greengram ranges between Rs. 46973/ha in marginal farmers (with BCR of 1.03) and Rs. 42639/ha in small farmers (with BCR of 1.09). 3  In red gram range between Rs. 40458/ha in marginal farmers (with BCR of 1.12) and Rs. 30121/ha in semi medium farmers (with BCR of 1.32).  In sorghum ranges between Rs. 20399/ha in semi medium farmers (with BCR of 0.98) and Rs.19359/ha in marginal farmers (with BCR of 0.89).  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 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 66.3 %), maize (62 %), paddy (54.2 to 56 %), and red gram (27.3 to 47.6 %).