LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BALCHED (4D5B1P2b) MICROWATERSHED Sydhapur Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Balched 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 613 ha in Balched microwatershed in Yadgir taluk and 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 about 93 per cent is covered by soils, 7 per cent by habitation and water bodies. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 11 soil series and 23 soil phases (management units) and 6 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is 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 320 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.  About 25 per cent soils are shallow (25-50 cm), 19 per cent are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 8 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm) and about 41 per cent soils are deep (100-150 cm) to very deep (>150 cm) soils.  About 24 per cent of the area has clayey soils, 30 per cent loamy soils and 38 per cent sandy soils at the surface.  An area of about 79 per cent has non-gravelly and 14 per cent are gravelly.  About 17 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 24 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m), 19 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) and about 33 per cent very low (<50 mm/m).  An area of 90 per cent of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3%) and about 3 per cent has gently sloping (3-5%) lands.  About 71 per cent has soils that are moderately eroded (e2) and 22 per cent are severely eroded (e3) soils.  An area of about 28 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 18 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 40 per cent soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 7 per cent soils that are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 – 9.0) and about <1 per cent are very strongly alkaline (pH>9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm- 1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 5 per cent is low (<0.5%), 52 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 36 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of 32 per cent has soils that are medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 61 per cent high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 25 per cent has low (<145 kg/ha), 63 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 6 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 49 per cent area, medium (10- 20 ppm) in 36 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in about 8 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 5 per cent, 79 per cent medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) and high (>1.0 ppm) in about 9 per cent area of the microwatershed.  About 4 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 89 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 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 Balched microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum - 367 (60) Sapota 1 (<1) 193 (31) Maize 1 (<1) 264 (43) Guava 1 (<1) 146 (24) Red gram - 249 (41) Pomegranate 1 (<1) 248 (40) Bajra 1 (<1) 413 (67) Jackfruit 1 (<1) 146 (24) Ground nut 1 (<1) 311 (51) Jamun 1 (<1) 248 (40) Sunflower 1 (<1) 248 (40) Musambi 1 (<1) 248 (40) Cotton - 366 (60) Lime 1 (<1) 248 (40) Bengalgram - 366 (60) Cashew 1 (<1) - Chilli 1 (<1) 366 (60) Custard apple 1 (<1) 413 (67) Tomato 1 (<1) 264 (43) Amla 1 (<1) 413 (67) Drumstick 1 (<1) 295 (48) Tamarind 1 (<1) 248 (40) Mulberry 1 (<1) 193 (31) Marigold 1 (<1) 366 (60) Mango 1 (<1) 146 (24) Chrysanthemum 1 (<1) 366 (60) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 9 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 that helps in maintaining the ecological balance in the microwatershed  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 supplementing the farm income, provide fodder and fuel and generate lot of biomass which in turn would help in maintaining 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: Balched micro-watershed (Yadgiri taluk and district) is located in between 16033’ – 16035’ North latitudes and 77018’ – 77020’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 613.39 ha, bounded by Sambara, Baddepalli, Kanikal, Balacheda & Sowrashtralli 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 Balched micro-watershed in Yadgir taluk and district are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 65.9 to 34.1 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age group 18 to 50 of population is around 64.4 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 58.3 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) are around 66.7 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among all sample households.  About 20.0 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 43.3 per cent farm households having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 90.0 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 33.3 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 83 per cent of households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 2.22 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to medium farmers and semi-medium farmers. The account for dry land of 55.54 ha among the total cultivated land among the sample households.  Agriculture is the main occupation is only 19.7 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 40.2 per cent of sample households. 2  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.12950 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs.6625 per household, about 16.7 per cent of sample farmers are owing plough.  The average value of livestock is around Rs.27769 per household; about 67.50 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 1134.7 grams (2639.8 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition recommendation at 827 gram. Around 92 per cent of sample households are consuming more than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 22630 per household. About 100 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs.4456. 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.3629/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in groundnut (Rs.9046) followed by cotton (Rs.8643), redgram (Rs.4232) and paddy is a negative returns.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs.2367/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in paddy (Rs. 3705) followed by groundnut (Rs.1029).  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 paddy (Rs.82646) followed by cotton (Rs. 43455), redgram (Rs. 37986) and groundnut (Rs. 32617). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is redgram (66.2 %) followed by groundnut (19.8 %), cotton (13.1 %) and paddy (1.0 %).  The total cost of cultivation in study area for cotton ranges between Rs.47784/ha in semi-medium farmers (with BCR of 1.31) and Rs.31036/ha in small farmers (with BCR of 1.13).  In groundnut the costs of cultivation range between Rs.63123/ha in medium farmers (with BCR of 1.13) and Rs.35112/ha in semi-medium farmers (with BCR of 1.23).  In red gram the cost of cultivation range between is Rs.36918/ha in marginal farmers (with BCR of 1.02) and Rs.19824/ha in medium farmers (with BCR of 1.28). 3  The cost of cultivation of paddy is Rs.130903/ha in small farmers (with BCR of 1.03).  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 strengthening 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 strengthening 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 (38.4 to 46.9 %), cotton (10.8 to 54.2 %), groundnut (7.5 to 42.2 %), and paddy (15.7 %).