LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT YAGAPUR TANDA-1 (4D5B2H1c) MICROWATERSHED Yadgir Taluk & District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Yagapur Tanda-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 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 720 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 498 ha (69%) ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, about 199 ha (28%) by rock outcrops and about 23 ha (3%) by others (Habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 14 soil series and 22 soil phases (management units) and 9 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.  An area of about 69 per cent is suitable for agriculture in the microwatershed.  About 28 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep to very deep (100- >150 cm), 5 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm), 9 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) and about 27 per cent soils are very shallow and shallow (<25-50 cm) in the microwatershed.  About 8 percent soils are sandy, 16 percent soils are loamy and 45 per cent is clayey soils at the surface.  An area of about 54 per cent is non gravelly (<15%) soils, about 15 per cent soils are gravelly (15-35%) and about <1 per cent soils are very gravelly (35-60%) in the microwatershed.  About 18 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity. About 6 per cent area of the microwatershed is medium (101-150 mm/m) and about 45 per cent soils are low (51-100 mm/m) and very low (<51mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 67 percent is very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and about 3 per cent soils are nearly level (0-1% slope) lands in the microwatershed.  An area of about 66 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded and about 3 per cent are slightly (e1) eroded lands in the microwatershed.  An area of about 3 percent is slightly to moderately acid (pH 5.5- 6.5), about 12 percent is neutral (6.5-7.3), about 24 percent is slightly alkaline (ph 7.3-7.8), about 37 per cent is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) in the microwatershed.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Organic carbon content is high (>0.75%) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  An area of about 6 percent is low (<23 kg/ha), about 22 percent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 41 percent soils are high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area of about 38 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 31 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium in the microwatershed.  Available sulphur is high (>20 ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 60 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in about 9 per cent soils.  Available iron content is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire cultivated 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 the entire cultivated 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 23(3) 113(16) Guava 16(2) 11(1) Maize 20(3) 116(16) Sapota 16(2) 11(1) Bajra 26(4) 110(15) Pomegranate 16(2) 52(7) Groundnut 22(3) 4(<1) Musambi 35(3) 33(5) Sunflower 19(3) 49(7) Lime 35(3) 33(5) Redgram - 74(10) Amla 26(4) 82(11) Bengal gram 19(3) 22(3) Cashew - 23(3) Cotton 19(3) 89(12) Jackfruit 16(2) 11(1) Chilli 20(3) 110(15) Jamun 16(2) 19(3) Tomato 20(3) 69(10) Custard apple 41(6) 99(12) Brinjal 20(3) 69(10) Tamarind 16(2) 19(3) Onion 20(3) 69(10) Mulberry 16(2) 11(1) Bhendi 20(3) 110(15) Marigold 20(3) 110(15) Drumstick 16(2) 30(4) Chrysanthemum 20(3) 110(15) Mango 16(2) -  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, fiber 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, 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 to 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 Yagapur Tanda-1 is located at North latitude 160 56’ 28.758” and 160 54’ 29.936" and East longitude 770 7’ 1.416'' and 770 5’ 27.747” covering an area of about 725.94 ha coming under Yagapura Village of Chithapura taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Yagapur Tanda-1 micro watersheds of Yaragal subwatershed, Chithapura taluk & Kalaburagi District indicated that, out of the total sample of 34 farmers were sampled in Yagapur Tanda-1 micro-watershed among households surveyed 12 (35.29%) were marginal, 11 (32.35%) were small and 7 (20.59 %) were semi medium farmers. 4 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 90 (52.94%) men and 80 (47.06 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4.8, marginal farmers were 4.7, small farmers were 5.6 and semi medium farmers were 4.7.  Majority of the respondents (44.12%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 62.94 per cent illiterates, 37.05 per cent pre university education and 1.18 per cent attained graduation.  About, 97.06 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 2.94 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 62.94 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 85.29 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 8.82 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 79.41 per cent possess TV, 41.18 per cent possess mixer grinder, 100.00 per cent possess mobile phones and 5.88 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 23.53 per cent of the households possess plough, 2.94 per cent possess tractor, 14.71 per cent possess bullock cart and 8.82 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 2.94 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.73, women available in the micro watershed was 1.67, hired labour (men) available was 12 and hired labour (women) available was 10.37.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 97.14 per cent (42.49 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 2.86 per cent area is irrigated land. 2  There were 1.00 live bore wells and 1.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 2.94 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Jowar, Maize and Groundnut and cropping intensity was recorded as 100.00 per cent.  Out of the sample households 94.12 percent possessed bank account and 35.29 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 100.00 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 100.00 per cent from cooperative/ Grameena bank.  Majority of the respondents (100.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton, Jowar, Maize and Groundnut was Rs.28112.10 , 30197.34, 25900.72, 12693.85 and 51094.17 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.20, 1: 1.22, 1: 0.80, 1: 2.90 and 1:0.70 respectively.  Further, 20.59 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 5.88 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 64638.24 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 37991.18 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 3 horticulture trees and 85 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 1911.76 for land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 47.06 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 88.24 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants.  Further, 88.24 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (55.88%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 88.24 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 73.53 per cent of the households and 26.47 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 58.82 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 47.06 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100.00 per cent of the households possessed BPL card. 3  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (61.76%), pulses (67.65%) and oilseeds (23.53%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (94.12%) wild animal menace on farm field (91.18%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (61.76%), inadequacy of irrigation water (88.24%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (76.47%), high rate of interest on credit (76.47%), low price for the agricultural commodities (64.71%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (38.24%), inadequate extension services (67.65%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (67.65%).