LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KUNIKERI -2 (4D3A1Z1g) MICRO WATERSHED Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Kunikeri-2 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 441 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 76 per cent is covered by soils, 4 per cent by mining/industrial, 16 per cent by rock outcrops and 3 per cent by habitation and water bodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 9 soil series and 17 soil phases (management units) and 5 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 1 per cent of the soils are shallow (25-50 cm), 18 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 7 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm), 38 per cent area has deep (100-150 cm) and 13 per cent are very deep (>150 cm) soils.  An area of about 47 per cent has loamy and 30 per cent has clayey soils at the surface.  About 52 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils, 14 per cent gravelly (15-35% gravel) and 10 per cent has very gravelly (35-60%) soils.  About 26 per cent are very low (<50 mm/m), 38 per cent low (51-100 mm/m), <1 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m), 12 per cent is high (151-200 mm/m) and <1 per cent very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 4 per cent has nearly level (0-1%) and 72 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 4 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 72 per cent moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about 12 per cent are slightly acid (ph 6.0-6.5), 14 per cent are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 10 per cent are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 39 per cent are moderately alkaline (pH pH 7.8-8.4) and <1 per cent are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4- 9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils is <2 dS m-1 and as such the soils are non-saline.  Organic carbon is low (<0.5%) in 1 per cent, medium (0.5-0.75%) in 16 per cent and high (>0.75%) in 59 per cent area of the soils.  Available phosphorus is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in area of about 13 per cent and high (>57 kg/ha) in 64 per cent in the microwatershed.  About 13 per cent of the soils are low (<145 kg/ha), 58 per cent of the soils are medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 5 per cent soils are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium content.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 47 per cent and medium (10-20 ppm) in about 29 per cent soils.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 76 per cent area and <1 per cent are medium (0.5-1.0 ppm).  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 24 per cent and deficient (<4.5 ppm) in about 53 per cent area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 36 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in about 40 per cent area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  The land suitability for 31 major agricultural and horticultural 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 144 (33) 45 (10) Sapota 144 (33) 29 (7) Maize 91 (21) 99 (22) Pomegranate 144 (33) 31 (7) Bajra 144 (33) 112 (25) Musambi 144 (33) 31 (7) Groundnut 53 (12) 237 (54) Lime 144 (33) 31 (7) Sunflower 144 (33) 2 (<1) Amla 144 (33) 186 (42) Red gram 144 (33) 2 (<1) Cashew 53 (12) 120 (27) Bengalgram 2 (<1) 225 (51) Jackfruit 144 (33) 29 (7) Cotton 144 (33) 45 (10) Jamun 144 (33) 31 (7) Chilli 144 (33) 43 (10) Custard apple 144 (33) 186 (42) Tomato 144 (33) 43 (10) Tamarind 144 (33) 28 (6) Brinjal <1 (<1) 221 (50) Mulberry 144 (33) 106 (24) Onion <1 (<1) 221 (50) Marigold 144 (33) 45 (10) Bhendi <1 (<1) 221 (50) Chrysanthemum 144 (33) 45 (10) Drumstick 144 (33) 77 (17) Jasmine 144 (33) 43 (10) Mango 144 (33) <1 (<1) Crossandra 144 (33) 43 (10) Guava 53 (12) 120 (27)  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 5 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 that helps in maintaining productivity and ecological balance in the microwatershed.  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. 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 Kunikeri-2 is located at North latitude 150 18’ 9.483” and 150 16’ 46.442” and East longitude 760 14’ 59.98'' and 760 13’ 26.382” covering an area of about 440.89 ha coming under Kunakeri and Hirebaganala villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Kunikeri-2 micro watersheds of Karkihalli subwatershed, Koppala taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 34 total respondents, 11 (32.35 %) were marginal, 10 (29.41%)were small, 6 (17.65 %) were Semi medium and 2 (5.88 %) were medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 73 (56.15%) men and 57 (43.85 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (40.00%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 46.15 per cent illiterates, 52.31 per cent pre university education and 3.08 per cent attained graduation.  About, 82.35 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 20.59 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 59.23 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 88.24 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 0.00 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 88.24 per cent possess TV, 2.94 per cent possess mixer grinder, 85.29 per cent possess mobile phones and 23.53 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 14.71 per cent of the households possess plough, 2.94 per cent possess tractor and 2.94 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 14.71 per cent possess local cow and 2.94 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 2.33, women available in the micro watershed was 2.90, hired labour (men) available was 11.37 and hired labour (women) available was 10.4.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 90.79 per cent (42.23 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 9.21 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 2.00 live bore wells and 1.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households. 2  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 5.88 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Maize, Bajra, Cowpea and Sunflower and cropping intensity was recorded as 93.02 per cent.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Bajra, Cowpea, Sunflower and 0 was Rs.28244.35 , 30308.95, 8072.04 and 41631.88 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.40, 1: 1.20, 1: 4.20 and 1: 2.30 respectively.  Further, 2.94 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 57382.35 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 44852.94 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 5 horticulture trees and 22 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Regarding marketing channels, 88.24 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants.  Further, 88.24 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (73.53%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 8.82 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 94.12 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 97.06 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 (100.00%), pulses (97.06%) and oilseeds (20.59%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (85.29%) wild animal menace on farm field (11.76%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (70.59%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (38.24%), high rate of interest on credit (20.59%), low price for the agricultural commodities (52.94%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (29.41%), inadequate extension services (5.88%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market(23.53%) and Less rainfall (2.94%).