LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MURADIHALLI (4D5B6P1a) MICROWATERSHED Sydhapur Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Muradihalli 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 591 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 580 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils and 11 ha by others (habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 16 soil phases (management units) and 7 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 3 per cent area are shallow (25 - 50 cm), 40 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 23 per cent area soils area moderately deep (75-100 cm) and 31 per cent area are deep (100 - 150 cm).  About 14 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy, 45 per cent area loamy and 39 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  Maximum of 95 per cent area in the microwatershed is non gravelly (<15%) and 3 per cent is gravelly (15-35%).  About 24 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 7 per cent area medium (101-150 mm/m), 64 per cent area low (51- 100 mm/m) and 3 per cent area very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity.  Maximum area of about 82 per cent is very gently sloping (1-3% slope) and 16 per cent is nearly level (0-1% slope) lands.  An area of about 80 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded and 18 per cent area is slightly (e1) eroded.  An area of about 8 per cent area is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction, 40 per cent soils are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 42 per cent are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8- 8.4) and 8 per cent soils are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the entire soils of the microwatershed is dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 90 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) in organic carbon and high (>0.75%) in 8 per cent area.  About 67 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha), 23 per cent area is low (<23 kg/ha) and 8 per cent area is high (>57 kg/ha) available phosphorus.  About 86 per cent area is medium (145 – 337 kg/ha) and 12 per cent area is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 11 per cent, medium (10 -20 ppm) in 56 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in 32 per cent.  About 81 per cent area is low (<0.5 ppm) in available boron and 17 per cent is medium (0.5-1.0 ppm).  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire 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 44(7) 413(70) Guava - 130(22) Maize 130(22) 335(57) Sapota - 130(22) Bajra 130(22) 328(55) Pomegranate - 219(37) Groundnut 130(22) 135(23) Musambi 44(7) 175(30) Sunflower 44(7) 175(30) Lime 44(7) 175(30) Redgram - 219(37) Amla 130(22) 283(48) Bengal gram 44(7) 45(8) Cashew - 130(22) Cotton 44(7) 148(25) Jackfruit - 130(22) Chilli 130(22) 312(53) Jamun - 44(7) Tomato 130(22) 223(38) Custard apple 174(29) 284(48) Brinjal 130(22) 223(38) Tamarind - 44(7) Onion 130(22) 223(38) Mulberry - 130(22) Bhendi 130(22) 312(53) Marigold 130(22) 312(53) Drumstick - 174(29) Chrysanthemum 130(22) 312(53) Mango - 218(37)  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 Muradihalli is located at North latitude 160 33’ 25.84” and 160 32’10.098” and East longitude 770 23’ 17.872'' and 770 21’ 4.201” covering an area of about 590.22 ha coming under Chandapura, Duppalli, Baddepalli and Kadechoora Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Muradihalli micro watersheds of Ajalapur subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 farmers were sampled in Muradihalli micro-watershed among households surveyed 6 (17.14%) were marginal, 10 (28.57%) were small, 15 (42.86 %) were semi medium and 3 (8.57 %) were medium farmers. 1 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 84 (62.69%) men and 50 (37.31 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4, marginal farmers were 3, small farmers were 3.8, semi medium farmers were 4.1 and medium farmers were 4.  Majority of the respondents (37.31%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 64.18 per cent of illiterates, 21.64 per cent of them had primary school education, 2.24 per cent middle school education, and 8.21 per cent high school education, 1.49 per cent of them had PUC education and 1.49 them had other education.  About, 88.57 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 8.57 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 78.36 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 82.86 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 2.86 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 85.71 per cent possess TV, 74.29 per cent possess mixer grinder, 97.14 per cent possess mobile phones and 25.71 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 22.86 per cent of the households possess Bullock Cart, 28.57 per cent possess plough, 8.57 per cent possess Power Tiller, 2.86 per cent possess Thresher, 34.29 per cent possess Weeder, 5.71 per cent possess tractor and 5.71 per cent possess Sprinkler.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 2.86 per cent possess local cow and 2.86 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.89, women available in the micro watershed was 1.49, hired labour (men) available was 6.49 and hired labour (women) available was 6.49. 2  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 97.80 per cent (73.43 ha) of the area is under dry condition.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram and Cotton, cropping intensity was recorded as 100.00 per cent.  Out of the sample households 100.00 percent possessed bank account and 31.43 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, 100 per cent have borrowed loan 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, 50.00 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram and Cotton was Rs.27720.80 and 20643.65 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.90 and 1: 2.10 respectively.  Further, 14.29 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 11.43 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 113685.71 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 77914.29 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 11 horticulture trees and 80 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 7685.71 for land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 65.71 per cent depends on own funds and 5.71 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 71.43 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 28.57 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 94.29 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 91.43 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Firewood was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 97.14 per cent of the households and 11.43 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 82.86 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 97.14 per cent of the households. 3  In the study area, 37.14 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 97.14 per cent of the households possessed BPL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (94.29%), pulses (94.29%) and oilseeds (77.14%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (94.29%) wild animal menace on farm field (82.86%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (91.43%), inadequacy of irrigation water (85.71%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (91.43%), high rate of interest on credit (91.43%), low price for the agricultural commodities (91.43%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (94.29%), inadequate extension services (65.71%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (91.43%).