LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT YADGIR NALA-1 (4D5B1E1a) MICROWATERSHED Hattakuni Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Yadgir Nala-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 461 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 382 ha (83%) in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 68 ha (15%) by rock outcrops and 11 ha (2%) by others (habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 4 soil series and 8 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 area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 57 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are very deep (>150 cm), 13 per cent soils are deep (100 to 150 cm), 10 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm) and 3 per cent soils are shallow (25-50 cm).  About 52 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 31 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 74 per cent area of the microwatershed has non gravelly (<15%) and 9 per cent has gravelly (15-35%) at the surface.  About 3 per cent area of the microwatershed is very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity, 10 per cent low (51-100 mm/m), 13 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 57 per cent area is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 43 per cent is nearly level (0-1%) and 40 per cent area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 43 per cent is slightly eroded (e1) and 40 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded in the microwatershed.  An area of about 39 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) and 44 per cent is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) in reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire area of the microwatershed is <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 15 per cent of soils are low (<0.5%), 62 per cent of soils are medium (0.5- 0.75%) and 6 per cent of soils are high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  About 65 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 18 per cent area is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 4 per cent is low (<145 kg/ha), 77 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 2 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 31 per cent, 46 per cent of the soils are medium (10-20 ppm) and 6 per cent is high (>20 ppm) in available sulphur.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 38 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in an area of 45 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient in an area of 52 per cent and sufficient in 31 per cent of the microwatershed.  Available manganese is sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available copper is sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in all the soils of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 29 major agricultural and horticultural crops grown in the microwatershed was 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 322(70) 45(10) Guava - - Maize - 368(80) Sapota - - Bajra - 368(80) Pomegranate - 322(70) Groundnut - 45(10) Musambi 288(62) 35(8) Sunflower 288(62) 35(8) Lime 288(62) 35(8) Redgram - 323(70) Amla - 367(80) Bengal gram 322(70) 45(10) Cashew - - Cotton 288(62) 80(18) Jackfruit - - Chilli - 368(80) Jamun - 322(70) Tomato - 272(59) Custard apple 322(70) 45(10) Brinjal 35(8) 333(72) Tamarind - 322(70) Onion 35(8) 45(10) Mulberry - - Bhendi 262(57) 106(23) Marigold - 368(80) Drumstick - 323(70) Chrysanthemum - 368(80) 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 Nala-1 is located at North latitude 160 52’ 25.18” and 160 51’ 10.235” and East longitude 770 9’ 47.358” and 770 8’ 6.025” covering an area of about 461.31 ha coming under Hatthakuni and Horunacha villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Yadgir Nala-1 micro watersheds of Hattikuni subwatershed, Yadagiri taluk, Yadagiri District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 total respondents, 11 were marginal, (31.43 %) were small 10 (28.57%), 6 (17.14 %) were Semi medium and 2 (5.71 %) were medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 100 (57.47%) men and 74 (42.53 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (38.51%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 52.30 per cent illiterates, 5.75 per cent pre university education and 4.02 per cent attained graduation.  About, 91.43 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 45.71 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 18.39 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 40.00 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 51.43 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 91.43 per cent possess TV, 45.71 per cent possess mixer grinder, 85.71 per cent possess mobile phones and 62.86 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 2.86 per cent of the households possess plough, 11.43 per cent possess tractor, 2.86 per cent possess bullock cart and 5.71 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 20.00 per cent possess local cow and 2.86 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 7.74 each, while the hired labour (men) availability was 1.43.  Further, 100.00 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 38.24 per cent (30.00 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 61.76 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 11.00 live bore wells and 11.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households. 2  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Redgram, Groundnut, Cotton, Paddy, Papaya and Green gram and cropping intensity was recorded as 94.87 per cent.  Out of the sample households 77.14 percent possessed bank account and 77.14 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 77.14 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 3.70 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 3.7 per cent from co-operative/Grameena bank.  Majority of the respondents (100.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 100.00 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Redgram, Groundnut, Cotton, Paddy, Green gram and papaya was Rs. 41288.68, 63392.27, 39091.61, 47918.04 and 64184.02 with benefit cost ratio of 1:2.1, 1:1.5, 1:3.9, 1: 2.4, 1:1.6 and 1:5 respectively.  Further, 31.43 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 5.71 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 208760.00 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 153331.43 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 67 horticulture trees and 122 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 13022.86 for land development and Rs. 2857.14 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 2.86 per cent depends on own funds and 22.86 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 40.00 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 45.71 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 (80.0 %) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 80.00 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 100 per cent of the households.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 82.86 per cent of the households. 3  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 31.43 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 (71.43%), pulses (85.71%) and oilseeds (45.71%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (82.86%) wild animal menace on farm field (80.00%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (62.86%), inadequacy of irrigation water (22.86%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (28.57%), high rate of interest on credit (11.43%), low price for the agricultural commodities (14.29%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (2.86%), inadequate extension services (20.00%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (25.71%), Less rainfall (31.43%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (42.86%).