LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CHIK HANGARGI-2 (4D5A3Q2c) MICROWATERSHED Jewargi Taluk, Gulbarga District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Chik Hangargi-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, behaviour and use potentials of the soils in the microwartershed. The present study covers an area of 711ha in Chik Hangargi-2 microwatershed in Jewargi taluk of Gulbarga district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone with an average annual rainfall of 751 mm, of which about 538 mm is received during south–west monsoon, 138 mm during north-east and the remaining 75 mm during the rest of the year. 98 per cent area is covered by soils and 2 per cent is by habitation and waterbodies. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 4 soil series and 8 soil phases (management units) and 3 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 1st week of June to 1st 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 19 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with the constraints were generated.  Entire area is suitable for agriculture.  About 2 per cent of the soils are very deep (>150 cm) and 24 per cent is deep (100- 150 cm), 33 per cent is shallow (25-50 cm) and 39 per cent are very shallow (<25cm) soils.  Entire area in the microwatershed has clayey soils at the surface.  Entire area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils.  About 2 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) and 24 per cent is medium (101-150 mm/m) in available water capacity. About 33 per cent low (50-100 mm/m) and very low (<50 mm/m) in 39 per cent area.  Major area has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands and 3 per cent gently sloping (3- 5%).  An area of about 31 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 62 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 5 per cent severely eroded (e3) soils.  An area of about 80 per cent has soils that are strongly alkaline soils (pH 8.4-9.0) and 18 per cent very strongly alkaline (>9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dS m-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 475 ha (67%) area is low (<0.5%) in organic carbon, medium (0.5-0.75%) in about 217 ha (30%) and high (>0.75%) in 6 ha (1%) in organic carbon.  Major area of 94 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha), 3 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) and >1 per cent high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 76 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) and 22 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in 71 per cent, 15 per cent high (>20 ppm) and 12 per cent low (<10) in available sulphur.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 13 per cent area, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in about 84 per cent area and high (>1.0 ppm) in about 1%.  Major area is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) and 4 per cent is deficient (<4.5ppm) in available iron.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  About 76 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc and 22 per cent sufficient (>0.6 ppm).  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 186 (26) - Guava - 14 (2) Maize - - Jackfruit - - Red gram - 186 (26) Jamun - 186 (26) Soybean 14 (2) 172 (24) Musambi 186 (26) - Bengalgram 186 (26) 235 (33) Lime 186 (26) - Sunflower 186 (26) - Cashew - - Cotton 186 (26) - Custard apple 186 (26) - Sugarcane - - Amla 186 (26) - Mango - - Tamarind - 186 (26) Sapota - 14 (2) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 3 identified LUCs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder fibre and horticulture crops that helps in maintaining the productivity and 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 would help in supplementing the farm income, provide fodder and fuel and generate lots of biomass. This 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: Chick Hangargi-2 micro-watershed (Chick Hangargi sub-watershed, Jewargi taluk, Gulbarga district) is located in between 16045’ – 16051’ North latitudes and 76032’ – 76035’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 711.06 ha, bounded by Sumbada and Yedrami 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 Chick Hangargi-2 (Chick Hangargi subwatershed, Jewargi taluk, Gulbarga district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 59.0 to 41.0 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 48.7 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 66.7 per cent.  Social groups belong to other back ward caste (OBC) is around 80.0 per cent.  Wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 90.0 per cent.  About 20.0 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 10.0 per cent of farm households are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system among all sample households.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 20.0 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making among all the households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.70 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The dry land is total cultivated land area among all the sample farmers. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation among 18 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is a subsidiary occupation is 56.4 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 19206 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 5036 per household, about 59.0 per cent of sample farmers having weeder.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 13667 per household; about 33.3 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 757.9 grams (1664.8 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 90.0 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 61121 per household. About 80.0 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs. 1612. 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. 683 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 476440 per year for the total area of 698 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs 259749/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in redgram (Rs. 504654) followed by cotton (Rs. 242593) and sorghum (Rs. 32000).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs 3293/ ha/year in sorghum.  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 redgram (Rs 62518), cotton (Rs 53778) and sorghum (Rs 40152). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is redgram (58.8 %) followed by cotton (32.8 %), sorghum (7.9 %) and paddy (0.5 %).  In Chick Hangargi-2 micro-watershed, major soil is Margutti (MGT) series is having very shallow soil depth cover around 38.93 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing cotton (20.8 %) and redgram (79.2 %). 3 Novinihala (NHA) are having shallow soil depth cover 33.09 % of area, the crops are redgram (67.4 %) and sorghum (32.6 %) and Dimal (DIM) series are having deep soil depth cover around 24.15 % of area, the crops are cotton (67.4 %) and redgram (32.6%).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for cotton range between Rs 33716/ha in MGT soil (with BCR of 1.40) and Rs 29641/ha in DIM soil (with BCR of 1.61).  In redgram the cost of cultivation range between in MGT soil Rs. 29316/ha (with BCR of 1.60) and Rs 21477/ha in NHA soil (with BCR of 1.47).  In sorghum the cost of cultivation Rs 20465/ha in NHA soil (with BCR of 1.45).  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 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 sorghum (53.1 %), cotton (31.1 to 12.6 %) and redgram (8.9 to 3.4 %).