LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT YADGIR RF-2 (4D2D6A2c) MICROWATERSHED Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Yadgir RF2 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 760 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 159 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 521 ha by forest and 80 ha by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 4 soil series and 10 soil phases (management units) and 3 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.  Entire cultivated 159 ha area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 12 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep to very deep (100 - >150 cm) and 9 per cent soils are shallow (25-50 cm).  About <1 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 9 per cent loamy soils and 11 per cent clayey soils.  Non gravelly (<15%) soils cover in 21 per cent of area and gravelly (15-35%) soils covered in <1 per cent of area in the microwatershed.  About 12 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity and 9 per cent area very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of 18 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands, 3 per cent has nearly level (0-1% slope), <1 per cent has gently sloping (3-5%) lands in the microwatershed.  An area of about 5 per cent is slightly eroded (e1) and 16 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded.  An area of about 1 per cent soils are slightly acid (pH 6-6.5) in soil reaction, 12 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 8 per cent soil are slightly to moderately alkaline.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 4 per cent area of the microwatershed is high (>0.75%) in organic carbon content, medium (0.5-0.75%) in 9 per cent area and low (<0.5%) in 8 per cent of the microwatershed.  About 7 per cent area is high (>57 kg/ha), <1 per cent is low (<23 kg/ha) and 13 per cent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area 3 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) and 18 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in available potassium in the microwatershed.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 4 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 15 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 1 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 21 per cent and deficient (<4.5 ppm) in <1 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire area of 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 - 93(12) Guava - - Maize - 93(12) Sapota - - Bajra - 93(12) Pomegranate - 2(<1) Groundnut - - Musambi - 2(<1) Sunflower - 2(<1) Lime - 2(<1) Redgram - 93(12) Amla - - Bengal gram - 2(<1) Cashew - - Cotton - 2(<1) Jackfruit - - Chilli - 2(<1) Jamun - - Tomato - - Custard apple - 2(<1) Brinjal - - Tamarind - - Onion - - Mulberry - - Bhendi - 2(<1) Marigold - 2(<1) Drumstick - - Chrysanthemum - 2(<1) Mango - -  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 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 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 sub marginal 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 Yadgir Rf-2 is located at North latitude 160 50’ 8.071” and 160 47’ 43.531" and East longitude 770 21’ 14.235'' and 770 19’ 26.504” covering an area of about 749.26 ha coming under Chinthanapalli and Gunjanura Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Yadgir Rf-2 micro watersheds of Mokadampur subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 40 total respondents, 15 (37.50 %) were marginal, 16 (40.00%)were small and 7 (17.50 %) were Semi medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 112 (58.33%) men and 80 (41.67 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (43.23%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 50.52 per cent illiterates, 0.52 percent were functional literates, 49.49 per cent pre university education and 1.56 per cent attained graduation.  About, 95.00 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 5.00 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 72.92 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 97.50 per cent of the households possess katcha house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 92.50 per cent possess TV, 52.50 per cent possess mixer grinder, 95.00 per cent possess mobile phones and 12.50 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 50.00 per cent of the households possess plough.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 30.00 per cent possess local cow and 7.50 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.63, women available in the micro watershed was 1.47, hired labour (men) available was 8.71 and hired labour (women) available was 11.74.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 94.48 per cent (48.52 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 5.52 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 5.00 live bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 12.50 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Onion, Paddy, Sorghum and Groundnut and cropping intensity was recorded as 92.93 per cent. 2  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Onion, Paddy, Sorghum and Groundnut was Rs.25892.53, 335673.90, 246937.31, 37110.54 and 64347.66 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.20, 1: 0.70, 1: 0.70, 1: 0.80 and 1:0.90 respectively.  Further, 0.00 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 0.00 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 64750.00 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 46625.00 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 250 horticulture trees and 32 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 3925.00 for land development and Rs. 250.00 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 10.00 per cent depends on own funds and 37.50 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 105.00 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants.  Further, 105.00 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (67.50%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 90.00 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 100.00 per cent of the households.  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, 92.50 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100.00 per cent of the households possessed BPL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (100.00%), pulses (85.00%) and oilseeds (5.00%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (95.00%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (92.50%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (87.50%), high rate of interest on credit (12.50%), low price for the agricultural commodities (72.50%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (10.00%), inadequate extension services (2.50%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market(57.50%)