LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT GUDIGERI-2 (4D4A2N2a) MICRO WATERSHED Alavandi Hobli, Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Gudigeri-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 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, behavior and use potentials of the soils in the Microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 494 ha in Koppal taluk and district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought - prone with an average annual rainfall of 662 mm, of which about 424 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 161 mm during north-east and the remaining 77 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 99 per cent is covered by soils, one per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 6 soil series and 8 soil phases (management units) and 4 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is <90 days and starts from 2nd week of August to 2nd week of November.  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 24 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  Entire area is suitable for agriculture.  About <1 per cent of the soils are shallow (25-50cm),47 per cent moderately shallow (50-75 cm) , 3 per cent moderately deep (75-100 cm) and about 49 per cent are deep to very deep soils (100->150 cm).  Entire area is having clayey soils at the surface.  About 61 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 35per cent has gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel) and 3 per cent has very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) soils.  With respect to available water capacity 48 per cent of the area has low (51-100 mm/m), 3 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 49 per cent area has very high (>200mm/m) .  An area of about 2 per cent has nearly level (0-1%) and 97 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  Entire area has moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about 7 per cent is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 9.0) and 92 per cent has very strongly alkaline (pH>9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Organic carbon is low (<0.5%) in about 81 per cent and medium (0.5-0.75%) in 18 per cent of the soils.  Available phosphorus is low (<23 kg/ha) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available potassium is high (>337 kg/ha) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in 38 per cent area, medium (10-20 ppm) in about 27 per cent area and about 35 per cent area is high (>20 ppm).  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 42 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 9 per cent and high (>1.0ppm) in 49 per cent area.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire area.  The land suitability for 24 major crops grown in the microwatershed was assessed and the areas that are highly suitable class (S1) and moderately suitable class (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 - 489(99) Guava - - Maize - - Jackfruit - - Bajra - - Jamun - 241(49) Groundnut - 233(47) Musambi - 256(52) Sunflower - 256(52) Lime - 256(52) Chilli - - Cashew - - Tomato - - Custard apple 489(99) Drumstick - 256(52) Amla 489(99) Mulbery 489(99) Tamarind - 241(49) Mango - - Marigold - 489(99) Sapota - Chrysanthemum - 489(99) Pomegranate - 256 (52) Jasmine - 233(47) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 4 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 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 sub marginal lands, field bunds and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges. That would help in supplementing the farm income, provide fodder and fuel, and generate lot of biomass which in turn would help in maintaining the ecological balance and 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 Gudigeri-2 micro-watershed is located between 15019’ – 15021’ North latitudes and 75053’ – 75055’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 494.48 and bounded by Kavalura, Gudigeri villages and Yelburga Taluk in Koppal taluk and district. It falls under Agro Ecological Region (AER)–3: (Deccan plateau, hot arid ecosubregion) Karnataka Plateau (Rayalseema as inclusion), hot arid ESR with deep loamy and clayey mixed red and black soils, low to medium AWC and LGP 60-90 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 for each watershed. Results: We found that Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 58 to 42 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age groups of population is around 54 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 81 per cent.  Wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 50 per cent.  Majority of farm households (75 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employments.  Dependence on ration cards through public distribution system is around 75 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 50 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 3.9 per cent of sample households.  Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevent among 33 per cent of farm households.  Women participation is decision making is not found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 4.02 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation only among 7 per cent and agricultural labours is predominant subsidiary occupation for 80 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs 17125 per household. Mobile and television are mass popular mass communication media.  The average farm assets values is around 1.2 lakhs, about 75 per cent of sample farmers are owing tractors.  The average per capita food consumption is around 643 grams (1443 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition recommendation at 827 gram. Around 75 per cent of sample farmers are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs 11683 per household. About 100 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly expenditure is around Rs 775 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 5756 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs 2806682 per year for the total area of 494.8 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food production is around Rs 2163/ ha/year. Per ha food production services is maximum in sunflower (Rs 3055 /ha) followed by green gram (Rs 2522/ha), groundnut (Rs 1574) and sorghum (1554).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs 5867/ ha/year. Per ha fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs 3000 /ha) followed by sorghum (Rs 1600 /ha) and groundnut (Rs 1000/ha).  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 green gram (Rs 34116) followed by sorghum (Rs 22586), sunflower (Rs 16628), groundnut (Rs 11453) and Maize (Rs 6037). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is green gram (32 %) followed by Groundnut (19.4 %), maize (19.4 %), sunflower (16.1%) and sorghum (12.9 %).  In Gudigeri-2 micro watershed, major soils are Muttal (MTL) series are having shallow soil deep. On this soil farmers are presently growing green gran (50 %) and groundnut (50 %). Ravanki (RNK) soil series are having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 47 per cent of area, major crops grown are maize. Gatareddaha (GRH) soil series are having deep soil depth covers around 17 % of 3 area, the major crop grown is sunflower and Murlapur (MLR) soil series are Very deep soil deep cover around 25 % of area, the crops grown are green gram (50%) and sorghum (50 %).  The total cost of cultivation in study area for green gram ranges between Rs.14140/ha in MLR soil (with BCR of 1.33) and Rs.12466/ha in MTL soil (with BCR of 1.19).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation in MTL soil is Rs.14355/ha (with BCR of 1.23).  In maize the cost of cultivation in RNK soil is Rs.12633/ha (with BCR of 1.08).  In sunflower the cost of cultivation in soil GHR is Rs.13056/ha (with BCR of 1.32) and Sorghum cost of cultivation in MLR soil is Rs.14007/ha (with BCR of 1.18). 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 green gram (20 %), groundnut (53.7%), maize (91.3%), sorghum (60%) and sunflower (55.6%).