LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BIJJUR-1 (4D4A3J2a) MICRO WATERSHED Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Bijjur-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 the physiographic delineations were used as base for mapping soils. The soils were studied in several transects and a soil map was generated 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 boundries. The soil map shows the geographic distribution and extent, characteristics, classification and use potentials of the soils in the micro-wartershed. The present study covers an area of 560 ha in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought prone with an average annual rainfall of 633 mm of which about 363 mm is received during south–west monsoon, 165 mm during north-east and the remaining 105 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 99 per cent is covered by soils, one per cent by rock lands, waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 13 soil series and 25 soil phases (management units) and 7 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 3rd week of June to 1rd 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 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 99 per cent area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 21 per cent of the soils are deep (100-150 cm), about 30 per cent are moderately deep (75-100 cm) soils, 45 per cent are moderately shallow to shallow (25-75 cm) and two per cent are very shallow (25-75 cm).  About 96 per cent of the area has clayey soils and 3 per cent are loamy soils at the surface.  About 6 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils, 33 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 %), 58 per cent very gravelly (35- 60%) soils and 3 per cent extremely gravelly (60-80%) soils.  About 18 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity, 56 per cent medium (100-150 mm/m) and about 25 per cent low (50-100 mm/m) and very low (<50mm/m).  About 99 per cent of the area has nearly level (0-1%) to very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  An area of about 43 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 42 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 14 per cent soils are severe eroded (e3).  An area of about 7 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 91 per cent strongly to very strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to >9.0) and only one per cent has soils that are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 87 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 12 per cent low (<0.5%) in organic carbon.  The entire area of about 99 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 27 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 73 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 49 per cent area and medium (10-20 ppm) in about 51 per cent area.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 89 per cent area, 9 per cent medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) and 2 per cent high (>1.0 ppm).  Available iron, manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  About 99 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc.  The land suitability for 21 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, 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 191 (34) 100 (18) Jackfruit - 16 (3) Maize - 40 (7) Jamun - 81 (24) Bengalgram 150 (27) 377 (67) Musambi 57 (10) 216 (39) Groundnut - 16 (3) Lime 21 (4) 252 (45) Sunflower 21 (4) 252 (45) Cashew - - Cotton 150 (27) 249 (45) Custard Apple 150 (27) 123 (22) Banana - 274 (49) Amla 21 (4) 252(45) Pomegranate - 251 (45) Tamarind - 180 (32) Mango - 139 (25) Marigold - 449 (80) Sapota - 16 (3) Chrysanthemum - 449 (80) Guava - 60 (11)  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 7 identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fibre and 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 and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges. SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS 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: Bijjur-1 Micro-watershed (Kanakvad sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) is located in between 1501’ – 1503’ North latitudes and 75037’ – 75040’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 560 ha, bounded by Chiksavanur, Govankop, Hosur, Narayanapur and Nagarmaduvu villages with length of growing period (LGP) 150-180 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 Bijjur-1 Microwatershed (Kanakvad subwatershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 58.6 to 41.4 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 50 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 77.6 per cent.  Social groups belong to schedules caste (SC) is around 30 per cent.  Fire wood is the major source of energy for a cooking among 80 per cent.  About 50 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (50 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 90 per cent.  Swachha bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 80 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 1.7 per cent of sample households.  Rural migration to urban centre for employment is prevalent among 0.5 per cent of farm households.  Women participation in decisions making for agriculture production among all sample households was found. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.7 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The total cultivated land of dry land condition among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 9.5 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 59.9 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.30526 per household. Mobile and television are popular mass media communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs.81730 per household, about 60 per cent of sample farmers having plough and bullock cart.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 22800 per household; about 81.3 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 766.3 grams (1601.8 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 80 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.21480 per household. Among all sample farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs.961. 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.1068 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 593586 per year for the total area of 560 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 1075 ha/year. Per hectare food grains production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 3920) followed by sunflower (Rs. 3519), sorghum (Rs. 1654) and horse gram (Rs. 1615), cotton (Rs. 2564) and ground nut is negative returns.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is Rs. 1505 ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in groundnut (Rs. 4940) followed by maize (Rs. 2142), sorghum (Rs. 1455) and horse gram (Rs. 494/).  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 cotton (Rs.69661) fallowed by maize (Rs. 20545), horse gram (Rs.15205), ground nut (Rs. 20614), sorghum (Rs. 28693) and sunflower (Rs. 27713). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is followed by maize (61.3 %) fallowed by sorghum (17.6 %), sunflower (6.4 %), horse gram (6.3 %), cotton (4.2 %) and groundnut (4.2 %).  In Bijjur-1 Microwatershed, major soil are soils of banded ferruginous quartzite landscape of Attikatti (AKT) series is having shallow soil depth cover around 8.6 % of area; on this soil farmers are presently growing maize (92.5 %) and groundnut (7.5 %). Yelisirunj (YSJ) is also having shallow soil depth cover around 5.9 % of area, the crops are sorghum. Venkatapur (VKP) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 25.6 % of areas, crops are maize. Jelligere (JLG) soil series having moderately deep soil depth cover around 16.6 % of area, crops are horse gram (41.6 %), maize (16.8 %) and sunflower (41.6 %). Varavi (VRV) soil series are having moderately deep soil depth cover around 13.8 % of area; the major crops grown are cotton (32.8 %), maize (18 %) and sorghum (49.2 %). Dhoni (DNI) soil series are having deep soil depth covers around 2.9 % of area, the major crop grown is maize. Kalasapur (KPR) soil series having deep soil depth cover 10.64 % of area; crops are sorghum.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for maize ranges between Rs. 35712/ha in JLG soil (with BCR of 1.14) and Rs. 1339/ha in VKP soil (with BCR of 2.06).  In sorghum the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 16589/ha in VRV soil (with of 1.13) and Rs.14829/ha in YSJ soil (with BCR of 1.22).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation in AKT soil is Rs. 43872/ha (with BCR of 0.96).  In horse gram the cost of cultivation in JLG soil Rs. 20615/ha (with BCR of 1.14).  In sunflower the cost of cultivation in JLG soil is Rs.17064/ha (with BCR of 1.21) and cotton the cost of cultivation in VRV soil is Rs. 40661/ha (with BCR of 1.06).  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. 4 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 maize (70.5 to 84.8%), sorghum (64.8 to 68 %), groundnut (56.6 %), horse gram (49.4 %) and sunflower (49.4%).