Watershed Development Department, Government of Karnataka (World Bank Funded) Sujala –III Project

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Chennahalu-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 492 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 99 per cent is covered by soil and 1per cent by habitation and water body. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below  The soils belong to 15 soil series and 24 soil phases (management units) and 8 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is <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 320 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing 31 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 24 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75- 100 cm) and 75 per cent is deep to very deep (100 to >150 cm) soils.  About 1 per cent sandy (loamy sand), 59 per cent loamy (sandy loam and sandy clay loam) and 39 per cent has clayey (sandy clay and clay) soils at the surface.  About 36 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils, 59 per cent has gravelly (15-35 %) and 4 per cent has very gravelly (35-60 %) soils.  With respect to available water capacity 48 per cent of the area has low (51-100 mm/m), 10 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m), 18 per cent high (151-200 mm/m) and 23 per cent very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 14 per cent is nearly level (0-1%) and 85 per cent is very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 32 per cent is slightly eroded (e1) and 67 per cent is moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about 21 per cent is moderately acid (pH 5.5-6.0), 11 per cent is slightly acid (pH 6.0-6.5), 58 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 9 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) in reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are <2 dSm-1 indicating that the soils are non saline.  Organic carbon is medium (0.5-0.75%) in 88 per cent and high (>0.75%) in 11 per cent area of the soils.  Available phosphorus is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in 28 per cent and high (>57 kg/ha) in 71 per cent area of the soils.  Available potassium is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 37 per cent and high (>337 kg/ha) in 62 per cent area of the soils.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in 8 per cent, medium (10-20 ppm) in 54 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in 37 per cent area of the soils.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 70 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0) in 29 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient (<4.5 ppm) in 14 per cent and sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 85 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 70 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 29 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire area of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 31 major agricultural and horticultural crops grown in the microwatershed was assessed and the areas that are highly suitable (class S1) and moderately suitable (class 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 28(6) 398(81) Sapota 105(21) 235(48) Maize - 426(87) Pomegranate 105(21) 341(70) Bajra 34(7) 412(84) Musambi 105(21) 341(70) Groundnut 60(12) 252(52) Lime 105(21) 341(70) Sunflower 28(6) 398(81) Amla 110(22) 232(48) Redgram 28(6) 398(81) Cashew 105(21) 235(48) Bengal gram - 106(21) Jackfruit 105(21) 235(48) Cotton - 365(75) Jamun 89(18) 170(35) Chilli 28(6) 398(81) Custard apple 110(22) 336(69) Tomato 28(6) 292(59) Tamarind 89(18) 170(35) Brinjal 28(6) 292(59) Mulberry 105(21) 235(48) Onion - 320(65) Marigold 28(6) 398(81) Bhendi 28(6) 398(81) Chrysanthemum 28(6) 398(81) Drumstick 105(21) 237(49) Jasmine 28(6) 292(59) Mango 89(18) 168(34) Crossandra 28(6) 292(59) Guava 105(21) 235(48)  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 8 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 to these problematic soils like saline/alkali, highly eroded, sandy soils etc.,  Soil and water conservation and drainage line 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 Chennahalu-1 is located at North latitude 150 30’ 14.452” and 150 28’ 40.049” and East longitude 760 11’ 48.631'' and 760 10’ 11.077” covering an area of about 508.97 ha coming under Chennahalu, Honnahunasi, Oddarahatti and Kudrimutti Villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Chennahalu-1 micro watersheds of Irakallaguda subwatershed, Koppala taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 total respondents, 14 (40.00 %) were marginal, 13 (37.14%)were small and 3 (8.57 %) were Semi medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 79 (53.74%) men and 68 (46.26 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (35.37%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 42.18 per cent illiterates and 59.85 per cent pre university education and 2.72 per cent attained graduation.  About, 100.00 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 24.49 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 28.57 per cent of the households possess katcha house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 42.86 per cent possess TV, 8.57 per cent possess mixer grinder, 74.29 per cent possess mobile phones and 42.86 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 25.71 per cent of the households possess plough, 20.00 per cent possess bullock cart and 5.71 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 8.57 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.76, women available in the micro watershed was 1.91, hired labour (men) available was 14.62 and hired labour (women) available was 15.12.  Further, 97.14 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 79.05 per cent (31.74 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 20.95 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 4.00 live bore wells and 4.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households. 2  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 11.43 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Maize and Bajra and cropping intensity was recorded as 99.76 per cent.  Out of the sample households 82.86 percent possessed bank account and 82.86 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 82.86 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize and Bajra was Rs.34691.83 and 25299.61 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.10 and 1: 0.60 respectively.  Further, 8.57 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 2.86 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 55114.29 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 28400.00 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 5 horticulture trees and 62 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 85.71 for land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned and 8.57 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 17.14 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 68.57 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 85.71 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (85.71%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 74.29 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.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 97.14 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 65.71 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 97.14 per cent of the household’s possessed BPL card, 2.86 per cent of the household’s possessed APL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (94.29%), pulses (77.14%) and oilseeds (11.43%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (91.43%) wild animal menace on farm field (77.14%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (65.71%), inadequacy of 3 irrigation water (34.29%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (57.14%), high rate of interest on credit (5.71%), low price for the agricultural commodities (31.43%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (20.00%), inadequate extension services (11.43%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (42.86%), Less rainfall (48.57%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (62.86%).