LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CHIKKA ALUR-2 (4D5B2A2c) MICROWATERSHED Yadgir Taluk & District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Chikka Alur-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 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 858 ha in Yadgir taluk & 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 555 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 298 ha (6%) area is covered by rock outcrops and 5 ha by others (habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 9 soil series and 9 soil phases (management units) and 5 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from 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 29 major agricultural and horticultural crops was assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 555 ha area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 10 per cent of area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 20 per cent of area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep (75-100 cm), 8 per cent of area is deep (100 - 150 cm) and 26 per cent of area is very deep (>150 cm).  About 12 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 53 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  Non gravelly (<15%) soils cover in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  About 34 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 17 per cent is medium (51-100 mm/m) and 14 per cent is low (51-100 mm/m).  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed is under very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  Entire cultivated area is moderately (e2) eroded in the microwatershed.  About 17 per cent area is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 22 per cent area is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 26 per cent area is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) and <1 per cent area is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) in soil reaction (pH).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of entire cultivated soils of the microwatershed is <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 19 per cent area is medium (0.5-0.75) and 46 per cent area is high (>0.75%) in organic carbon content of the soil.  About 21 per cent of area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus content of the soil, 38 per cent of area is high (>57 kg/ha) and 6 per cent of area is low (<23 kg/ha) in the microwatershed.  Available potassium content is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 7 per cent area and high (>337 kg/ha) in 58 per cent area in the microwatershed.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 60 per cent area and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 5 per cent area in the microwatershed.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 38 per cent area and deficient (<4.5 ppm) in 27 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc content is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in an area of 53 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 11 per cent area in the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 29 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 29 (3) 522 (61) Guava 12 (1) 29 (3) Maize 41 (5) 510 (60) Sapota 12 (1) 29 (3) Bajra 41 (5) 510 (60) Pomegranate 12 (1) 167 (20) Groundnut 12 (1) 116 (14) Musambi 12 (1) 167 (20) Sunflower - 179 (21) Lime 12 (1) 167 (20) Redgram - 463 (55) Amla 41 (5) 226 (26) Bengal gram 138 (16) 130 (15) Cashew - 41 (5) Cotton - 254 (30) Jackfruit 12 (1) 29 (3) Chilli 41 (5) 226 (26) Jamun - 12 (1) Tomato 41 (5) 88 (10) Custard apple 41 (5) 226 (26) Brinjal 41 (5) 88 (10) Tamarind - 12 (1) Onion 41 (5) 88 (10) Mulberry 12 (1) 29 (3) Bhendi 41 (5) 226 (26) Marigold 41 (5) 226 (26) Drumstick 12 (1) 167 (20) Chrysanthemum 41 (5) 226 (26) Mango - 12 (1)  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 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.  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 not only supplementing the farm income but also provide fodder and fuel and generate lot of biomass which would help in maintaining an ecological balance and also contribute to mitigating the climate change. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Chikka Alur-2 is located at North latitude 160 59’ 57.118” and 160 57’ 36.993" and East longitude 770 9’ 8.415'' and 770 7’ 13.762” covering an area of about 840.96 ha coming under Allura.K and Allura .B Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 respondents, 16 (45.71%) were marginal, 10 (28.57%) were small and 6 (17.14%) were semi medium and 1 (2.86%) were medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 89 (56.33%) men and 67 (42.41%) were women.  Majority of the respondents (43.04%) were in the age group of 35-60 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, majority there were 44.30 per cent illiterates and only 6.33 per cent attained graduation.  About, 80.00 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 8.57 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 60.76 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 71.43 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 8.57 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 57.14 per cent possess TV, 8.57 per cent possess mixer grinder and 97.14 per cent possess mobile phones.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 17.14 per cent of the households possess plough. Regarding livestock possession by the households, 20.00 per cent possess local cow and 2.86 per cent possess buffalo respectively.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.57, women available in the micro watershed was 1.40, hired labour (men) available was 7.34 and hired labour (women) available was 6.34.  Further, 11.43 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 (42.09 ha), 100.00 per cent of the area is under dry condition.  Cropping intensity was recorded as 100.36 per cent.  The sample households possessed 88.57 per cent bank account and 0.00 per cent of them have savings in the account.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 100.00 per cent from Cooperative bank.  Majority of the respondents (100.00 %) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 100.00 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations. 2  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram and Jowar was Rs.30642.84 and 24912.40 with benefit cost ratio of 1:0.90 and 1: 0.70, respectively.  Further, 20.00 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 33457.14 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 26657.14 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have planted 26 neem trees, 11 acacia trees, 1 banyan trees together in both field and backyard.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 2542.86 for land development, Rs.4257.14 for adoption of improved crop production and Rs.400.00 adoption of improved livestock breeds activities.  Source of funds raised from bank as a loan and from own sources for land development and improved crop production was 11.43 and for improved livestock adoption was 2.86 per cent.  Regarding marketing channels, 91.43 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 5.71 per cent have sold by Agents/Traders.  Further, 85.71 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (97.14 %) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 94.29 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Firewood connection was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 60.00 per cent of the households and 40.00 per cent households has LPG.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 100.00 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 60.00 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 97.14 per cent of the households possessed BPL card and 2.86 per cent do not possess PDS card.  Cereals (54.29%), pulses (51.43%), oilseeds (42.86%) were adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (94.29%) wild animal menace on farm field (94.29%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (54.29%), inadequacy of irrigation water (74.29%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (91.43%), high rate of interest on credit (94.29%), low price for the agricultural commodities (94.29%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (28.57%), inadequate extension services (68.57%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (80.00%).