LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KANEKAL-4 (4D5B1P1d) MICROWATERSHED Balichakra Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Kanekal-4 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 boundaries. The soil map shows the geographic distribution and extent, characteristics, classification, behaviour and use potentials of the soils in the microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 494 ha in Kanekal-4 microwatershed in Yadgir taluk and district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as droughtprone 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 about 99 per cent is covered by soils, 1 per cent by rock outcrops and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 13 soil series and 17 soil phases (management units) and 7 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from the 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 were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  Entire land area of the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  Small area of less than 1 per cent are shallow (25-50 cm), 24 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 18 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100cm) and about 57 per cent soils are deep (100-150cm) to very deep (>150 cm) soils.  About 58 per cent of the area has clayey soils, 39 per cent loamy soils and 2 per cent sandy soils at the surface.  An area of about 77 per cent has non-gravelly and 22 per cent are gravelly.  About 56 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity, 6 per cent is medium (101-150 mm/m), 16 per cent low (51-100mm/m) and about 20 per cent very low (<50 mm/m).  Maximum area of 82 per cent in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands and 17 per cent gently sloping (3-5%) lands.  Maximum area of about 82 per cent is soils that are moderately eroded (e2) and 17 per cent is severely eroded.  An area of about 18 per cent has neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 36 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 33 per cent soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4) and about 12 per cent soils are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 – 9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm- 1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About <1 per cent is low (<0.5%), 8 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 91 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of 13 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha), 85 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 1 per cent high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 97 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 2 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 86 per cent area and medium (10-20 ppm) in 13 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 52 per cent, 44 per cent medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) and high (>1.0 ppm) in about 3 per cent area of the microwatershed.  About 15 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 84 per cent sufficient (>4.5 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Entire area of the microwatershed is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc.  The land suitability for 26 major crops grown in the microwatershed was 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 Kanekal-4 microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum - 385 (78) Sapota - 50 (10) Maize - 12 (2) Guava - 50 (10) Red gram - 370 (75) Pomegranate - 370 (75) Bajra - 381 (77) Jackfruit - 47 (9) Ground nut - 62 (12) Jamun - 301(61) Sunflower - 62 (12) Musambi - 370 (75) Cotton 219 (44) 120 (24) Lime - 369 (75) Bengalgram 238 (48) 100 (20) Cashew - - Chilli - 216 (44) Custard apple - 385 (78) Tomato - 62 (12) Amla - 386 (78) Drumstick - 370 (75) Tamarind - 301 (61) Mulberry - 47 (9) Marigold - 389 (79) Mango - 53(11) Chrysanthemum - 389 (79) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 7 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 that helps in maintaining the ecological balance in the microwatershed  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, field bunds and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges, that are edible and produce lot of biomass that helps to restore the ecological balance in the microwatershed. 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: Kanikal-4 micro-watershed (Yadgir taluk and district) is located in between 16035’ – 16036’ North latitudes and 770 15’ – 76016’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 494.19 ha, bounded by Kanikal, Rampura, Sydhapura, Neelahalli and Kudlura villages 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 Kanikal-4 micro-watershed in Yadgir taluk and district are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 61.2 to 38.8 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age group 18 to 50 of population is around 51.8 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 61.2 per cent.  Social groups belong to scheduled caste / scheduled tribes are around 47.1 per cent  Wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 88.2 per cent.  About 29.4 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 11.8 per cent farm households having MGNREGA card for rural employments.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 94.1 per cent  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 31.2 per cent of sample households.  Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevalent among 23.5 per cent of farm households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 47.1 per cent of households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 2.4 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The account for 80.3 per cent of dry land 2 and 19.7 per cent of irrigated land of total cultivated land among the sample households.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 17.6 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 51.8 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.184954 per household. Mobile and television are mass popular mass communication media.  The average farm assets a value is around Rs.115647 per household, about 28 per cent of sample farmers are owing plough.  The average livestock value is around Rs.32666 per household; about 64 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 1081.2 grams (2483.9 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition recommendation at 827 gram. Around 23.5 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 37155 per household. About 29.4 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly expenditure is around Rs. 2816. 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 2236.2 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs 1093504 per year for the total area of 494.2 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 8645/ ha/year. Per hector food production services is maximum in bajra (Rs. 25693) followed by maize (Rs. 5267), redgram (Rs. 5048), greengram (Rs. 5032), groundnut (Rs. 4863) and cotton (Rs. 3792).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs.1555/ ha/year. Per hector fodder production services is maximum in bajra (Rs 2717) followed by paddy (Rs 2083), groundnut (Rs.1049) and maize (Rs 370).  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 bajra (Rs. 110557) followed by greengram (Rs. 51173), red gram (Rs. 33808), cotton (Rs. 31928), maize (Rs. 20751) and groundnut (Rs.18037). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is redgram (47.2 %) followed by cotton (17.6 %), groundnut (16.0 %), greengram (4.8 %), maize (4.8 %), paddy (8.0 %), and bajra (1.6 %) 3  In Kanikal-4 micro watershed, major soils are soil of alluvial landscape of Sambara (SBR) series are having moderately shallow soil deep cover around 25.57 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing cotton (56.2 %), maize (25.0 %) paddy (6.2 %), and redgram (12.5 %). Soil of granite and granite gneiss landscape of Nagalapur (NGP) are also having deep soil deep cover around 0.97 % of area, the crops are paddy (11.1 %), and redgram (88.9 %). Madhwara (MDR) soil series having very deep soil depth cover around 23.42 % of areas, crops are redgram (100 %). Hosalli (HSL) soil series are having moderately deep soil depth cover around 15.53 per cent of area, respectively. The major crops grown are paddy (16.7 %) and redgram (83.3 %). Kadechoor (KDH) soil series are having moderately deep soil depth covers around 3.31 % of area, the major crop grown is bajra (8.3 %), cotton (12.5 %), greengram (16.7 %), groundnut (45.8 %) and redgram (16.7 %). Mylapura (MYP) and Rachanalli (RHN) soil series having very deep and moderately deep soil depth cover 1.54 % and 0.41 % of areas respectively; crops are cotton, greengram, maize, redgram, groundnut and paddy.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for cotton ranges between Rs.35018/ha in MYP soil (with BCR of 1.18) and Rs.25702/ha in SBR soil (with BCR of 1.07).  In maize the cost of cultivation range between Rs 35615/ha in MYP soil (with BCR of 1.14) and Rs.16683/ha in SBR soil (with BCR of 1.48).  In paddy the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 74662/ha in SBR soil (with BCR of 1.51) and Rs. 20967/ha in RHN soil (with BCR of 1.06).  In redgram cost of cultivation range between is Rs. 29997/ha in SBR soil (with BCR of 1.48) and Rs 8160 in NGP soil (with BCR of 1.02).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation range between is Rs 23485/ha in KDH soil (with BCR of 1.22) 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 bajra the cost of cultivation in KDH soil is Rs.66931/ha (with BCR of 1.43).  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. 4 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 (46 to 64.6 %), maize (67.4 % to 72 %), paddy (34% to 78 %), red gram (27.3 % to 86.4 %), groundnut (26.6 % to 30.6 %).