LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT HONAVALU-2 (4D4A1W1c) MICRO WATERSHED Alavandi Hobli, Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Honavalu-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 delineated physiographic boundaries 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 446 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 98 per cent is covered by soils, two per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 13 soil series and 22 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 28 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 2 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm),30 per cent moderately deep (75-100 cm) and about 65 per cent are deep to very deep soils (100- >150 cm).  About < 1 per cent of the area is having loamy at the surface and 98 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface.  About 72 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15 %) soils and 26 per cent has gravelly soils (15-35 %)  With respect to available water capacity 12 per cent of the area has very low (<50mm/m), 24 per cent of the area has low (51-100 mm/m), 23 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 39 per cent area has very high (>200mm/m).  An area of about 10 per cent has nearly level (0-1%) lands and 88 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 63 per cent is slightly eroded (e1) and 35 per cent is moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about 4 per cent has soils that are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3 to 7.8), about 20 per cent moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 72 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 9.0) and 2 per cent soils are 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 33 per cent, medium (0.5-0.75%) in 53 per cent and high (>0.75%) in 12 per cent area of the soils.  Available phosphorus is low (<23 kg/ha) in 41 per cent, medium (23-57 kg/ha) in 43 per cent and high (>57 kg/ha) in 14 per cent of the soils.  Available potassium is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 6 per cent and high (>337 kg/ha) in 92 per cent of the soils.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in 8 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in 90 per cent area of the soils.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 44 per cent area, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 52 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 2 per cent area.  Available iron is deficient in 1 per cent of the area and sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 97 per cent of the area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 70 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 29 per cent of the soils.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire area.  The land suitability for 27 major 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 60 (13 ) 241 (54) Pomegranate 19 (4 ) 272 (61) Maize - 44 (10) Guava 34 (8) Bajra 34 (8) 10 (2) Jackfruit 19 (4 ) 15 (3) Redgram - 315 (71 ) Jamun - 207 (47) Bengalgram 62 (14) 323 (72) Musambi 70 (16 ) 221 (49 ) Groundnut 15 (3) 113 (25) Lime 70 (16 ) 221 (49 ) Sunflower 51 (12) 240 (54 ) Cashew - 72 (16 ) Cotton 62 (14) 323 (72) Custard apple 197 (44) 240 (54 ) Chilli - 44 (10) Amla 19 (4). 418 (94) Tomato - 44 (10) Tamarind - 207 (47 ) Drumstick 19 (4) 357 (80 ) Marigold - 300 (67 ) Mulbery 34 (8) 335 (75 ) Chrysanthemum - 300 (67 ) Mango 34 (8) Jasmine - 44 (10) Sapota 19 (4) 30 (7) Crossandra - 209 (47) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the four 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 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 lot of biomass which inturn 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 Honavalu-2 micro-watershed (Koppal taluk and district) is located in between 15019’ – 15020’ North latitudes and 7603’ – 7605’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 446.42 ha, bounded by Vadhaganala, Katrahalli and Honavalu villages. 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 soil, 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: The socio-economic outputs for the Honavalu-2 micro-watershed in Koppal taluk and district are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 52.7 to 47.3 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 58.3 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 74.0 per cent.  Wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 100 per cent.  About 71.4 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (75.0 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employments.  Dependence on ration cards through public distribution system is around 96.4 per cent  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 89.3 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 5.45 per cent of sample households.  Women participation is decisions making are around 39.3 per cent of households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 2.4 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to medium and semi medium farmers. Major area under rain fed (76.4 %) and irrigated (23.6%) of area cultivation. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation among 25.2 per cent and Agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is predominant subsidiary occupation for 55.6 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.44842 per household. Mobile and television are mass popular mass communication media.  The average farm assets a value is around Rs.68315 per household, about 39.3 per cent of sample farmers are owing plough.  The average livestock value is around Rs.17953 per livestock; about 82.0 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 703.0 grams (1727.1kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 78.6 per cent of sample farmers are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.29672 per household. About 10.7 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly expenditure is around Rs.462 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 900.3 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs 505064 per year for the total area of 446.4 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs 12084/ ha/year. Per hectare food production services is maximum in chillies (Rs.61493) followed by bengalgram (Rs.17952), cotton (Rs.8276), groundnut (Rs.5394), green gram (Rs 4691), sunflower (Rs.4607), redgram (Rs.3242), maize (Rs.3193) and bajra is negative returns.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder grain production is around Rs 1562/ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs 4725) and bajra (Rs 3794).  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.107573) followed by bengalgram (Rs.102347), cotton (Rs 74637), bajra (Rs.65782), groundnut (Rs. 45878), sunflower (Rs.36737), greengram (Rs.32410) and maize (Rs.22412). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is maize (43.0 %) followed by Sunflower (20.8 %), cotton (10.4 %), bajra (8.7 %), green gram (7.9 %), bengal gram (3.9 %), groundnut (3.7 %), chillies (0.8 %) and red gram (0.8 %). 3  In Honavalu-2 micro-watershed, major soil is soil of alluvial landscape of Hatti (HTI) series is having moderately shallow soil deep cover around 2.1 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing maize (50.0 %) and sunflower (50.0 %), Soil of granite and granite gneiss landscape of Bidanagere (BDG) are also having moderately deep soil deep cover around 11.8 % of area, the crops are bajra (62.5 %), cotton was 37.5 % each. Dambarahalli (DRL) soil series having moderately deep soil depth cover around 13.24 % of areas, crops are bajra (11.2 %), cotton (11.2 %), groundnut (3.8 %) maize (53.5 %), redgram (2.8 %) and sunflower (17.4 %), Balapur (BRP) soil series are having deep soil depth cover around 18.8 % of area, respectively. The major crops grown are maize (57.3 %) and sunflower (42.7 %). Gatareddihal (GRH) soil series are having deep soil depth covers around 33.1 % of area, the major crop grown is bajra (13.5 %), bengalgram (16.9 %), chillies (3.4 %), cotton (20.2 %), maize (25.0 %) and sunflower (21.0 %). Mornal (MNL) soil series having deep soil depth cover 3.47 % of area, crops are cotton, groundnut and maize .and Kadagathur (KDT) soil series having deep soil depth cover 4.58 % of areas respectively; crops are bajra (4.9 %), greengram (49.1 %), groundnut (11.6 %) and maize (34.4 %).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for groundnut range between Rs. 63566/ha in DLR soil (with BCR of 1.04) and Rs.56316/ha in MNL soil (with BCR of 1.16).  In cotton the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs.57633/ha in BDG soil (with BCR of 1.03) and Rs.51870/ha in DRL soil (with BCR of 1.10).  In maize the cost of cultivation range between Rs 46807/ha in KDT soil (with of 2.00) and Rs.17643/ha in HTI soil (With BCR of 1.03).  In sunflower the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs.33757/ha in DRL soil (with BCR of 1.15) and Rs. 26253/ha in HTI soil (with BCR of 1.58).  In bajra cost of cultivation range between is Rs.41990/ha in KDT soil (with BCR of 1.18) and Rs.33654/ha in GRH soil (with BCR of 1.06).  In redgram the cost of cultivation in DRL soil is Rs.79040/ha (with BCR of 1.04).  In chillies the cost of cultivation in GRH soil is Rs 117386/ha (with BCR of 2.1) and green gram cost of cultivation in KDT soil is Rs 19711/ha (with BCR of 1.31).  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. Fertilizer applications are deeper soil to maximize returns. Suggestions;  Involving farmers is watershed planning helps in strengthing institutional participation. 4  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 chillies (90 %), maize (51.3 to 85.1 %), bajra (0 to 29.7 %), greengram (24.0 %), sunflower (0 to 23.8 %), cotton (0 to 10 %).