LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT YADGIR RF-4 (4D5B1C1a) MICROWATERSHED Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Yadgir Rf4 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 469 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 263 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils and 206 ha by rock outcrops. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 6 soil series 6 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.  About 263 ha area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 36 per cent area is very shallow (<25 cm), 13 per cent shallow (25-50 cm) and 7 per cent deep (100-150 cm),  About 41 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 9 per cent loamy soils and 6 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  An area of 47 per cent in the microwatershed is gravelly (15-35%) and 9 per cent area is non gravelly (<15%).  About 50 per cent area of the microwatershed is very low (<51 mm/m) in available water capacity and 7 per cent is low (<51-100 mm/m).  About <1 per cent area in the microwatershed has gently sloping (3-5% slope) lands and 55 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  An area of 50 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded and 6 per cent is severely eroded (e3) in the microwatershed.  An area of about 36 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction and 20 per cent area is slightly alkaline (pH 6.5 - 7.3).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of entire soils of the microwatershed is <2 dsm- 1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 31 per cent of the soils are high (>0.75%) in organic carbon, 10 per cent area is low (<0.5%) and 15 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%).  46 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus, 8 per cent low (<23 kg/ha) and high (>57 kg/ha) 2 per cent of area in the microwatershed.  About 41 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in available potassium, 9 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) and 6 per cent is low (<145 kg/ha).  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 23 per cent and 33 per cent is medium (0.5-1.0 ppm).  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in an area of 46 per cent and deficient (<4.5 ppm) in 10 per cent of area in 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 about 27 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 29 per cent of 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 - - Guava - - Maize - - Sapota - - Bajra - - Pomegranate - - Groundnut - - Musambi - - Sunflower - - Lime - - Redgram - - Amla - - Bengal gram - - Cashew - - Cotton - - Jackfruit - - Chilli - - Jamun - - Tomato - - Custard apple - - Brinjal - - Tamarind - - Onion - - Mulberry - - Bhendi - - Marigold - - Drumstick - - Chrysanthemum - - 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 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 Yadgir Rf-4 is located at North latitude 160 54’ 2.051” and 160 52’ 20.777" and East longitude 770 14’ 23.244'' and 770 13’ 0.007” covering an area of about 467.67 ha coming under Motanahalli, Kotageri and Katagi Shahapura Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Yadgir Rf-4 micro watersheds of Yadgir Rf subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 farmers were sampled in Yadgir Rf-4 micro-watershed among households surveyed 25 (71.43%) were marginal, 4 (11.43%) were small and 2 (5.71 %) were semi medium farmers. 4 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 77 (52.74%) men and 69 (47.26 %) were women. The average population of landless was 3, marginal farmers were 4.4, small farmers were 4.3 and semi medium farmers were 3.5.  Majority of the respondents (41.78%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 55.48 per cent illiterates, 41.09 per cent pre university education and 2.05 per cent attained graduation.  About, 94.29 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 5.71 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 22.60 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 54.29 per cent of the households possess katcha house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 68.57 per cent possess TV, 34.29 per cent possess mixer grinder, 57.14 per cent possess mobile phones and 2.86 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 5.71 per cent of the households possess plough.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 5.71 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.15, women available in the micro watershed was 1.15, hired labour (men) available was 7.76 and hired labour (women) available was 7.82.  Further, 94.29 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 100.00 per cent (26.36 ha) of the area is under dry condition.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Sorghum, Red gram and Groundnut and cropping intensity was recorded as 103.81 per cent. 2  Out of the sample households 85.71 percent possessed bank account and 85.71 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 85.71 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton, Sorghum, Red gram and Groundnut was Rs.28377.27 , 82075.37, 30297.85, 28377.27 and 127706.25 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.03, 1: 0.67, 1: 1.02, 1: 1.03 and 1:0.85 respectively.  Further, 2.86 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 42282.86 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 22140.00 comes from agriculture.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 285.71 for land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 2.86 per cent depends on own funds and 5.71 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 11.43 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 77.14 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 88.57 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 82.86 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, 94.29 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 (88.57%), pulses (80.00%) and oilseeds (11.43%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (80.00%) wild animal menace on farm field (65.71%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (54.29%), inadequacy of irrigation water (22.86%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (20.00%), high rate of interest on credit (17.14%), low price for the agricultural commodities (11.43%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (11.43%), inadequate extension services (11.43%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (40.00%), Less rainfall (51.43%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (42.86%).