LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CHIKASAVANUR-3 (4D4A3G2c) MICRO WATERSHED Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District, Karnataka

Abstract

land resource inventory of Chikasavanur-3 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 boundries. The soil map shows the geographic distribution and extent, characterstics, classification and use potentials of the soils in the microwartershed. The present study covers an area of 388 ha in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought prone with an average annual rainfall of 633 mm of which about 363 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 165 mm during north-east and the remaining 105 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 96 per cent is covered by soils, ten per cent by rock lands and four per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 16 soil series and 25 soil phases (management units) and 10 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 3rd week of June to 1st 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 250 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 87 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 13 per cent is not suitable for agriculture.  About 30 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) to shallow (25-50 cm) and about 25 per cent are moderately deep (>150 cm) soils. An area of 31 per cent is deep to very deep (100->150 cm).  About 49 per cent of the area has loamy soils at the surface and 36 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface. A very small area of about 6 per cent is sandy soils at the surface.  About 32 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15% gravel) soils, 47 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel) and 8 per cent very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) soils.  About 45 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) to very low (<50mm/m) in available water capacity, 30 per cent of the area has medium (101-150 mm/m) and 12 per cent area has very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 70 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3% slopes) slope lands and 17 per cent area has nearly level lands (0-1% slopes).  An area of about 59 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 28 per cent moderately eroded (e2).  An area of about 21 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 40 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to >9.0), 13 per cent neutral (pH 6.5 - 7.3) and 2 per cent under slightly acid (pH 6.0-6.5).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline in the microwatershed.  About 14 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) in organic carbon and low (<0.5%) in about 72 per cent.  An area of about 74 per cent low (<23 kg/ha) and 9 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 67 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 20 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in about 64 per cent area, 18 per cent area is low (<10 ppm) and about 5 per cent high (>20 ppm) in available sulphur.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 33 per cent area, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 38 per cent area and high (>1.0 ppm) in 16 per cent area.  Available iron is deficient in about 68 per cent area and sufficient in 19 per cent area.  Available manganese are sufficient in all the soils.  Available copper is sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in area of 80 per cent and deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 7 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 3 per cent and deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 83 per cent area of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 23 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, price and finally the demand and supply position. Baseline socioeconomic characterisation is prerequisite to prepare action plan for program implementation and to assess the project performance before making any changes in the watershed development program. The baseline provides appropriate policy direction for enhancing productivity and sustainability in agriculture. Methodology: Chikasavanur-3 micro-watershed (Nilogal sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) is located in between 1504’ – 1507’ North latitudes and 75035’ – 75037’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 388 ha, bounded by Bhikonati, Hullur, Belhatti and Nilogal villages with length of growing period (LGP) 150-180 days. We used soil resource map as basis for sampling farm households to test the hypothesis that soil quality influence crop selection, and conservation investment of farm households. The level of technology adoption and productivity gaps and livelihood patterns were analyses. The cost of soil degradation and ecosystem services were quantified. Results: The socio-economic outputs for the Chikasavanur-3 Microwatershed (Nilogal sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 51 to 49 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is 64.4 around per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 82.3 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 60 per cent and scheduled caste (ST) 40 per cent.  Firewood is the source of energy for a cooking among 90 per cent.  About 70.0 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Farm households are having MGNREGA card only 60 per cent for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grain through public distribution system is around 80 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 60 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 4.4 per cent of sample households.  Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevalent among 2.2 per cent.  Women participation in decisions making for agriculture production among all the sample households was found. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 2.13 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The rainfed land of 92.6 per cent and irrigated land 7.9 per cent of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 17.3 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 67.6 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.13298. per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs.7708 per household, about 100 per cent of sample farmers having weeder and plough.  The average livestock value is around Rs. 37066 per household; about 73.3 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 945 grams (1947 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 40 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 22423 per household. About 80.0 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.1273. Environmental Indicators-Ecosystem Services;  The value of ecosystem service helps to support investment to decision on soil and water conservation and in promoting sustainable land use.  The onsite cost of different soil nutrients lost due to soil erosion is around Rs. 322 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 108696 per year for the total area of 388 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs 8265/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 5848) followed by sorghum (Rs. 653), horse gram (Rs. 12634) and cotton (Rs. 13926).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 811/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 1350), sorghum (Rs. 659) and horse gram (Rs. 425).  The data on water requirement for producing one quintal of grain is considered for estimating the total value of water required for crop production. The per hectare value of water used and value of water was maximum in cotton (Rs. 42299) followed by horse gram (Rs. 19337), maize (Rs. 23496) and sorghum (Rs. 25095). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is maize (52.6 %) followed by horse gram (26.7 %), cotton (14.7 %) and sorghum (6.0 %).  In Chikkasavanur-3 micro-watershed, major soil series are Mudnakodu soils series are having shallow soil depth covers around 2.6 % of area. on this soil farmers are presently growing horsegram (50 %) and sorghum (50 %).Thamadahalli series soils are moderately shallow soil depth covers around 15.6 % of area. major crops are cotton (59.8 %) and maize (40.1 %), Chikkamegheri soils series are moderately deep soil depth covers around 6.74 % of area. Major crops are horsegram. Kanchikere soils are moderately deep soil depth covers around 10.5 % of area. major crops are cotton (65.7 %) and maize (34.2 %), Gollarahatti soils series are having moderately deep soil depth covers around 8.13 % of area. Major crops are maize. Kengaki soils are having very deep soil depth covers around 4.2 % of area; major crops are maize.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for horse gram ranges between Rs. 20923/ha in MUK soil (with BCR of 1.14) and Rs. 10349/ha in CKM soil (with BCR of 3.19).  In cotton the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 19136/ha in TDH soil (with BCR of 1.38) and Rs. 18104/ha in KKR soil (with BCR of 1.95).  In maize the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs. 23918 /ha in KGK soil (with BCR of 1.27) and Rs. 20070 /ha GHT soil (with BCR of 1.22).  In sorghum the cost of cultivation in MUK soil is Rs. 15813/ha (with of 1.08).  The land management practices reported by the farmers are crop rotation, tillage practices, fertilizer application and use of farm yard manure (FYM). Due to higher wages farmer are following labour saving strategies is not prating soil and water conservation measures. Less ownership of livestock limiting application of FYM.  It was observed soil quality influences on the type and intensity of land use. More fertilizer applications are deeper soil to maximize returns. Suggestions;  Involving farmers is watershed planning helps in strengthing institutional participation.  The per capita food consumption and monthly income is very low. Diversifying income generation activities from crop and livestock production in order to reduce risk related to drought and market prices.  Majority of farmers reported that they are not getting timely support/extension services from the concerned development departments.  By strengthing agricultural extension for providing timely advice improved technology there is scope to increase in net income of farm households. 4  By adopting recommended package of practices by following the soil test fertiliser recommendation, there is scope to increase yield in horse gram (32.5 to 71.4 %), sorghum (70.7 %), coconut (34.9 to 81.4 %) and maize (75.2 to 78.1 %).