LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CHILAYADGI-1 (4D4A1X1b) MICROWATERSHED Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Chilayadgi-1 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 450 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 92 per cent is covered by soils, 2 per cent by rock outcrops and six per cent water bodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 15 soil series and 23 soil phases (management units) and 6 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about <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 12 per cent of the soils are shallow (25-50 cm), 9 per cent are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 29 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm), about 33 per cent are deep soils (100-150 cm) and 6 per cent very deep (>150 cm) in soil depth.  About 20 per cent area has clayey soils at the surface and 68 per cent area has loamy and 5 per cent area sandy soils.  About 37 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils, 26 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel) and 30 per cent very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) soils.  About 35 per cent are very low (<50 mm/m), 37 per cent are low (51-100 mm/m), 14 per cent are medium (101-150 mm/m), 3 per cent are high (151-200 mm/m) and 4 per cent very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 8 per cent area has nearly level (0-1%), 76 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3%) and 9 per cent area has gently sloping (3-5%) lands.  An area of about 33 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 60 per cent moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about 17 per cent has soils that are moderately to lightly acid (pH 5.5- 6.5), 27 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 48 per cent are slightly to strongly alkaline (pH 7.3 to 9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the entire soils is <2 dS m-1 and as such the soils are non-saline.  Organic carbon content is low (<0.5%) in about 15 per cent, 40 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) and 38 per cent of the soils are high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  Available phosphorus is low (<23 kg/ha) in about <1 per cent, medium (23-57 kg/ha) in about 56 per cent and high (>57 kg/ha) in 35 per cent area of the microwatershed.  About 15 per cent of the soils are low (<145 kg/ha), medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 70 per cent and 8 per cent of the soils are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium content.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 6 per cent, medium (10-20 ppm) in 60 per cent and about 26 per cent area is high (>20 ppm).  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 44 per cent area, 41 per cent area is medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) and high (>1.0 ppm) in about 7 per cent.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 63 per cent and deficient (<4.5 ppm) in 30 per cent area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 52 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in about 41 per cent area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  The land suitability for 28 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 88 (20) 74 (17) Pomegranate 73 (16) 119 (26) Maize 72 (16) 73 (16) Guava 67 (15) 107 (24) Bajra 81 (18) 112 (25) Jackfruit 73 (16) 102 (23) Red gram 52 (12) 92 (21) Jamun 21 (5) 151 (33) Bengalgram 31 (7) 152 (34) Musambi 89 (20) 103 (23) Groundnut 16 (3) 248 (55) Lime 89 (20) 103 (23) Sunflower 68 (15) 56 (12) Cashew 88 (19) 141 (31) Cotton 22 (5) 161 (36) Custard apple 119 (26) 240 (54) Chilli 72 (16) 74 (17) Amla 103 (23) 256 (57) Tomato 72 (16) 73 (16) Tamarind 21 (5) 118 (26) Drumstick 52 (12) 146 (32) Marigold 72 (16) 90 (20) Mulbery 52 (12) 268 (59) Chrysanthemum 72 (16) 90 (20) Mango 21 (5) 77 (17) Jasmine 72 (16) 73 (16) Sapota 73 (16) 102 (23) Crossandra 72 (16) 73 (16) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 6 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 that helps in maintaining 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 lot of biomass which in turn would help in maintaining the ecological balance and contribute to mitigating the climate change FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Chilayadgi-1 is located at North latitude 150 24’ 12.392” and 150 22’ 56.964” and East longitude 760 11’ 36.107'' and 760 9’ 10.139” covering an area of about 450.05 ha coming under Chilavadagi and Tenakanakalu Villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Chilayadgi-1 micro watersheds of Bhagyanagar subwatershed, Koppala taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 farmers were sampled in Chilayadgi-1 micro-watershed among households surveyed 12 (34.29%) were marginal, 8 (22.86%) were small, 9 (25.71 %) were semi medium and 2 (5.71 %) were medium farmers. 4 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 103 (57.22%) men and 77 (42.78 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4.8, marginal farmers were 5.2, small farmers were 4.6, semi medium farmers were 5.4 and medium farmers were 6.5.  Majority of the respondents (43.89%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 28.89 per cent illiterates, 1.67 percent were functional literates, 67.23 per cent pre university education and 2.78 per cent attained graduation.  About, 65.71 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 31.43 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 23.33 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 97.14 per cent of the households possess katcha house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 80.00 per cent possess TV, 60.00 per cent possess mixer grinder, 71.43 per cent possess mobile phones and 31.43 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 60.00 per cent of the households possess plough, 14.29 per cent possess bullock cart and 20.00 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 11.43 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.71, women available in the micro watershed was 1.23, hired labour (men) available was 18.55 and hired labour (women) available was 18.42. 2  Further, 37.14 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 53.47 per cent (35.94 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 46.53 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 12.00 live bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 37.15 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Maize, Bengal gram, Cotton, Bajra and Groundnut and cropping intensity was recorded as 80.82 per cent.  Out of the sample households 5.71 percent possessed bank account and 5.71 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 5.71 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Bengal gram, Cotton, Bajra and Groundnut was Rs.29975.59, 18785.35, 27887.32, 34465.31 and 50936.92 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.50, 1: 4.90, 1: 1.40, 1: 0.70 and 1:1.30 respectively.  Further, 14.29 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 31.43 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 72562.86 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 58557.14 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 40 horticulture trees and 46 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 742.86 for land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 8.57 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 51.43 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 40.00 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 105.71 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (51.43%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 42.86 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 97.14 per cent of the households and 2.86 per cent households has LPG connection. 3  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 62.86 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 62.86 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 94.29 per cent of the households possessed BPL card, 5.71 per cent of the household’s possessed APL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (100.00%), pulses (65.71%) and oilseeds (5.71%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (60.00%) wild animal menace on farm field (20.00%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (71.43%), inadequacy of irrigation water (8.57%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (34.29%), high rate of interest on credit (25.71%), low price for the agricultural commodities (31.43%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (14.29%), inadequate extension services (5.71%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (20.00%), Less rainfall (37.14%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (34.29%).