LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KHURGUNTA-2 (4D5B4E2d) MICROWATERSHED Sedam Taluk, Gulbarga District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Khurgunta-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 603 ha in Sedam taluk of Gulbarga district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone with an average annual rainfall of 839 mm, of which about 639 mm is received during south-west monsoon, 109 mm during north-east and the remaining 91 mm during the rest of the year. An area of 481 ha (80%) in the microwatershed is covered by soils, about 6 ha (1%) area covered by railway and 117 ha (19%) by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 3 soil series and 6 soil phases (management units), and 2 land use class.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from 2nd week of June to 3rd 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 major agricultural and horticultural crops was assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 80 percent of area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 71 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep (100-150 cm) to very deep (>150 cm) and 9 per cent soils are shallow (25-50 cm) in depth.  About 80 per cent area of the microwatershed has clayey soils at the surface.  About 79per cent area is non gravelly (<15%) and <1 per cent is gravelly (15- 35).  About 71 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity and 9 per cent area is low (51-100 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 80 per cent area of the microwatershed has very gently (1-3% slope) sloping lands.  An area of about 59 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 21 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded to severely eroded.  An area of about 80 per cent soils are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils is low (2-4 dSm-1) in 80 per cent area of the microwatershed.  About 69 per cent soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) and 11 per cent is high (>0.75%) in soil organic carbon content.  About 78 per cent of the area is low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus and 1 per cent is medium (23-57 kg/ha).  About 80 per cent soils are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 57 per cent and medium (10 -20 ppm) in 23 per cent.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in an area of about 66 per cent, medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) in 14 per cent.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 80 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese is sufficient in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available copper is sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is sufficient in 3 per cent and deficient in 76 per cent of soils in the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 19 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 413(68) 13(2) Sapota - - Maize - - Jackfruit - - Redgram - 426(71) Jamun - 426(71) Sunflower 413(68) 13(2) Musambi 413(68) 13(2) Cotton 413(68) 13(2) Lime 413(68) 13(2) Sugarcane - - Cashew - - Soybean 413(68) 13(2) Custard apple 413(68) 13(2) Bengal gram 413(68) 68(11) Amla 413(68) 13(2) Guava - - Tamarind - 426(71) Mango - - 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, fiber and 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 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, generate lot of biomass which would help in maintaining an ecological balance and also help in 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: Khurgunta-2 micro-watershed (Adki sub-watershed, Sedam taluk, Gulbarga district) is located in between 1709’–17011’ North latitudes and 77019’–76021’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 603.11 ha, bounded by Khurgunta, Sedam and Madhakal 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 eco system services were quantified. Results: The socio-economic outputs for the Khurgunta-2 micro-watershed (Adki subwatershed, Sedam taluk, Gulbarga district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 52.8 to 47.2 Per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is 66.6 around per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 79.2 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) 60 percent.  Liquefied petroleum gas is the source of energy for a cooking among 80 per cent.  About 10.0 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 10.0 percent of farm households are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 70 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 40 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making is among all the households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 2.19 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land is total cultivated land area among all the sample farmers. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation among 83.3 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation around 4.2 percent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.19277 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs.7483 per household, about 80 per cent of sample farmers having plough and bullock cart (30 %).  The average value of livestock is around Rs.33666 per household; about 30.0 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 827 grams (1970 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 60 per cent of sample farmers are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.48361 per household. About 50.0 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.2558 per household. 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.685 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs.329794 per year for the total area of 603 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs 14354/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in red gram (Rs.18647) and bengal gram (Rs.10421).  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 red gram (Rs. 57776) and bengalgram (Rs. 46909). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is red gram (86.5 %) and bengal gram (13.4 %).  In Khurgunta-2 micro-watershed, major soil series are grown on Dhoandothi soils are very deep soil depth covers around 36.38 % of area major crops are red gram and bengalgram. Dargah soils are moderately deep soil depth covers around 34.19 % of area. on these soil farmers are presently growing red gram. Adki soils are shallow soil depth covers around 9.06 % of area major crops are red gram. 3  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for red gram ranges between Rs. 28187/ha in ADK soil (with BCR of 1.89) and Rs. 22489/ha in DRG soil (with BCR of 1.84).  In bengalgram the cost of cultivation in DDT soil is Rs. 16749/ha (with BCR of 1.62).  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 are deeper soil 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 redgram (16.9 to 18.4 %) and bengalgram (53.6 %).