LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT GONDABALU (4D4A1Y1g) MICRO WATERSHED Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Gondabalu 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 435 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 85 per cent is covered by soil and 15 per cent by habitation and water body. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below  The soils belong to 14 soil series and 30 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 21 per cent of the soils are shallow (25-50 cm), 16 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 19 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75- 100 cm) and 29 per cent is deep to very deep (100 to >150 cm) soils.  About 8 per cent sandy (loamy sand), 22 per cent loamy (sandy loam and sandy clay loam) and 55 per cent has clayey (sandy clay and clay) soils at the surface.  About 35 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils, 39 per cent has gravelly (15-35 %) and 11 per cent has very gravelly (35-60 %) soils.  With respect to available water capacity 7 per cent of the area has very low (<50mm/m), 49 per cent of the area has low (51-100 mm/m), 20 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m), 4 per cent high (151-200 mm/m) and 5 per cent very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 42 per cent is nearly level (0-1%) and 43 per cent is very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 54 per cent is slightly eroded (e1) and 31 per cent is moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about 3 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 5 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 40 per cent is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4), 30 per cent is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) and 7 per cent is very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0) 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 62 per cent and high (>0.75%) in 23 per cent area of the soils.  Available phosphorus is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in 18 per cent and high (>57 kg/ha) in 67 per cent area of the soils.  Available potassium is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 54 per cent and high (>337 kg/ha) in 31 per cent area of the soils.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in 71 per cent and medium (10-20 ppm) in 14 per cent area of the soils.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 3 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0) in 79 per cent and high (0.5-1.0) in 3 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient (<4.5 ppm) in 69 per cent and sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 16 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (>0.6 ppm) in 38 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 47 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 52(12) 156(36) Sapota 40(9) 59(14) Maize 22(5) 186(43) Pomegranate 40(9) 104(24) Bajra 63(14) 114(26) Musambi 40(9) 105(24) Groundnut 27(6) 147(34) Lime 40(9) 105(24) Sunflower 40(9) 103(23) Amla 98(22) 178(41) Redgram 40(9) 99(23) Cashew 18(4) 74(16) Bengal gram - 211(48) Jackfruit 40(9) 60(14) Cotton 32(7) 175(41) Jamun 32(7) 90(20) Chilli 52(12) 56(13) Custard apple 98(22) 178(41) Tomato 52(12) 56(13) Tamarind 32(7) 30(7) Brinjal 58(13) 204(47) Mulberry 40(9) 168(38) Onion - 162(37) Marigold 40(9) 168(38) Bhendi - 262(60) Chrysanthemum 40(9) 168(38) Drumstick 40(9) 166(38) Jasmine 40(9) 124(28) Mango 32(7) 30(7) Crossandra 40(9) 71(16) Guava 27(6) 74(16)  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 Gondabalu is located at North latitude 150 17' 10.821” and 150 15’ 17.062'' and East longitude 760 9’ 34.089'' and 760 7’ 28.737” covering an area of about 435.13 ha coming under Goddabala, Hyati and Muddhaballi Villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Gondabalu micro watersheds of Chukkanakallu subwatershed, Koppal taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 34 total respondents, 6 (17.65 %) were marginal, 14 (41.18%) were small, 5 (14.71 %) were Semi medium and 3 (8.82 %) were medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 92 (57.14%) men and 69 (42.86 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (40.99%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 25.47 per cent illiterates, 24.84 per cent of them had primary school education, 3.11 per cent middle school education, 23.60 per cent high school education, 5.59 per cent of them had PUC education, 1.24 per cent of them had Diploma, 6.83 per cent attained graduation.  About, 67.65 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 32.35 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 41.61 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 52.94 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 20.59 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 79.41 per cent possess TV, 82.35 per cent possess mixer grinder, 88.24 per cent possess mobile phones and 35.29 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 35.29 per cent of the households possess plough, 11.76 per cent possess bullock cart and 26.47 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 23.53 per cent possess local cow and 14.71 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own men and women labour availability in the micro watershed was 15.22 each, while the hired labour (men) availability was 2.00.  Further, 79.4 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was adequate during agriculture season.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 20.75 per cent (33.24 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 79.25 per cent area is irrigated land. 2  There were 22.00 live bore wells and 2.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 64.71 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Maize, Sugarcane, Paddy, Cowpea, Groundnut, Pearl millet and Cotton and cropping intensity was recorded as 95.66 per cent.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Sugarcane, Paddy, Cowpea and Cotton was Rs.37390.21, 53036.66, 51412.89, 27288.70 and 34564.17 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.10, 1: 5.80, 1: 1.00, 1: 1.00 and 1:2.60 respectively.  Further, 44.12 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 44.12 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 70973.53 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 49502.94 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 20 horticulture trees and 87 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 3088.24 for land development and Rs.1470.59 for Improved crop production.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 20.00 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 58.82 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 35.29 per cent have sold in agents/Traders.  Further, 76.47 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (14.71%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 41.18 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 82.35 per cent of the households and 17.65 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 67.65 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 97.06 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 38.24 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 91.18 per cent of the households possessed BPL card and 5.88 per cent of the household’s were not having ration cards.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (100.00%), pulses (64.71%) and oilseeds (5.88%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (44.12%) wild animal menace on farm field 3 (29.41%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (44.12%), inadequacy of irrigation water (29.41%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (44.12%), high rate of interest on credit (44.12%), low price for the agricultural commodities (38.24%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (55.88%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (11.76%), Less rainfall (41.18%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/ Mobile) (35.29%).