LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT GOPALPUR (4D2D6B1e) MICROWATERSHED Balichakra Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Gopalapur 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 735 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 712 ha (97%) in the microwatershed is covered by soils and 23 ha (3%) by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 9 soil series and 21 soil phases (management units) and 3 land management units.  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 320 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 60 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep to very deep (100 to >150 cm) and 36 per cent soils are very shallow to moderately shallow (<25-75 cm).  About 3 per cent area has sandy soils at the surface, 42 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 52 per cent clayey soils.  Almost entire area of the microwatershed has non gravelly (<15%) soils at the surface except a small area of 5 ha that are gravelly (15-35%).  About 27 per cent area of the microwatershed is very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity, 9 per cent low (51-100 mm/m), 1 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 60 per cent area is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 6 per cent has nearly level (0-1%) and 91 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) in the microwatershed lands.  An area of about 6 per cent are slightly (e1) eroded, 81 per cent are moderately (e2) eroded and 11 per cent area is severely (e3) eroded.  An area of about 1 per cent is slightly acid (pH 6.0-6.5), 8 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 17 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 39 per cent is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4), 24 per cent is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) and 8 per cent is 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 30 per cent of soils are low (<0.5%), 33 per cent of soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) and 34 per cent of soils are high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  About 65 per cent area is low (<23 kg/ha), 31 per cent area is medium (23- 57 kg/ha) and <1 per cent area is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 51 per cent is low (<145 kg/ha), 37 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 9 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 68 per cent, 26 per cent of the soils are medium (10 -20 ppm) and high (>20 ppm) in 3 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 17 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in an area of 61 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 17 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient (<4.5 ppm) in an area of about 18 per cent and sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 79 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 agricultural and horticultural 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 Microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum - 516(70) Sapota - - Maize - 65 (9) Pomegranate - 450(61) Bajra - 516(70) Musambi - 450(61) Groundnut - - Lime - 450(61) Sunflower - 451(61) Amla - 516(70) Redgram - 450(61) Cashew - - Bengal gram - 516(70) Jackfruit - - Cotton - 516(70) Jamun - 441(60) Chilli - 515(70) Custard apple - 515(70) Tomato - 65(9) Tamarind - 441(60) Drumstick - 450(61) Mulberry - - Mango - - Marigold - 515(70) Guava - - Chrysanthemum - 515(70)  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 Gopalapur is located at North latitude 160 44’ 34.25” and 160 43' 1.624" and East longitude 770 19’ 32.865'' and 770 17’ 7.334” covering an area of about 734.61 ha coming unde Gopalapur and Yaleri Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Gopalapur micro watersheds of Gopalapur subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 37 farmers were sampled in Gopalapur micro-watershed among households surveyed 12 (32.43%) were marginal, 10 (27.03%) were small, 8 (21.62 %) were semi medium and 1 (2.70 %) were medium farmers. 6 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 115 (57.50%) men and 83 (41.50 %) were women. The average population of landless was 5.3, marginal farmers were 5.1, small farmers were 5.9, semi medium farmers were 5.4 and medium farmers were 5.  Majority of the respondents (51.50%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 44.00 per cent illiterates, 1.00 percent were functional literates, 46.50 per cent pre university education and 8.50 per cent attained graduation.  About, 32.43 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 62.16 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 17.00 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 97.30 per cent of the households possess katcha house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 91.89 per cent possess TV, 37.84 per cent possess mixer grinder, 86.49 per cent possess mobile phones and 40.54 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 13.51 per cent of the households possess plough.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 8.11 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.54, women available in the micro watershed was 1.50, hired labour (men) available was 9.48 and hired labour (women) available was 8.85.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 76.17 per cent (42.11 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 10.57 per cent area is irrigated land. 2  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 5.41 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Green gram, Sorghum, Paddy and Groundnut and cropping intensity was recorded as 100.00 per cent.  Out of the sample households 72.97 percent possessed bank account and 54.05 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 54.05 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Green gram, Sorghum, Paddy and Groundnut was Rs.39973.87, 27132.07, 32948.88, 87915.02 and 17905.10 with benefit cost ratio of 1:2.50, 1: 2.50, 1: 1.70, 1: 1.20 and 1:1.50 respectively.  Further, 2.70 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 74013.51 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 46013.51 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 22 horticulture trees and 35 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 3621.62 for land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 59.46 per cent depends on own funds and 2.70 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 70.27 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants.  Further, 70.27 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (37.84%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 62.16 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 94.59 per cent of the households and 5.41 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 97.30 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 89.19 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100.00 per cent of the households possessed BPL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (100.00%), pulses (83.78%) and oilseeds (8.11%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (70.27%) wild animal menace on farm field (10.81%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (56.76%), inadequacy of 3 irrigation water (8.11%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (51.35%), high rate of interest on credit (10.81%), low price for the agricultural commodities (56.76%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (56.76%), inadequate extension services (2.70%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (51.35%).