LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEVIHAL-2 (4D4A3G1b) MICRO WATERSHED Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Devihal-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 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 471 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 75 per cent is covered by soils and 25 per cent by rocklands, waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 22 soil phases (management units) and 6 land use classes.  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 71 per cent area is suitable for agriculture, 4 per cent is not suitable for agriculture and about 25 per cent is covered by rocky lands.  About 55 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) to shallow (25-50 cm) and about 6 per cent are moderately deep (75-100 cm) to deep (100-150 cm) soils.  About 63 per cent of the area has loamy soils at the surface and 11 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface.  About 4 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 51 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel) and 19 per cent very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) soils.  About 70 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) to very low (<50mm/m) and 4 per cent is medium (101-150 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 70 per cent is very gently (1-3%) slope lands and 4 per cent is gently sloping (3-5%).  An area of about 15 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 56 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 3 per cent is severely eroded.  An area of about 17 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 8 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) and 12 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to >9.0). An area of about 18 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 14 per cent is slightly acid (pH 6.0-6.5) and 4 per cent moderately acid (pH 5.5-6.5).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 12 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) in organic carbon, low (<0.5%) in about 61 per cent and <1 per cent of the soils are high (>0.75%).  An area of about 74 per cent is low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus and medium in very negligible area.  About 70 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha), low (<145 kg/ha) in 3 per cent and < 1 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in about 66 per cent area and 7 per cent is high (>20 ppm).  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 15 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 46 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 13 per cent.  Available iron is deficient in about 48 per cent and sufficient in 26 per cent.  Available manganese is sufficient in the entire microwatershed area.  Available copper is sufficient in the entire microwatershed area.  Available zinc is sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 7 per cent and deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 67 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, 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 14(3) 154(33) Sapota 5(1) 22(5) Maize 14(3) 154(33) Jackfruit - 20(4) Cotton 20(4) 178(38) Jamun - 20(4) Sunflower 20(4) 178(38) Musambi - 20(4) Onion 23(5) 175(37) Lime - 20(4) Groundnut 23(5) 180(38) Cashew - 28(6) Chilli 28(6) 170(36) Custard apple 20(4) 187(40) Sugarcane 20(4) 8(2) Amla 20(4) 187(40) Pomegranate 20(4) 8(2) Tamarind - 20(4) Tomato 28(6) 195 (41) Marigold 28(6) 170(36) Guava 14(3) 13 (3) Chrysanthemum 28(6) 170(36) Mango - 20(4) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 6 identified LUCs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fibre and horticulture crops.  Maintaining soil-health is vital to 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 to 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 bundsand also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges that would help in supplementing the income, provide fodder and fuel and generate lot of biomass. This would help in maintaining ecological balance and also help in mitigating the climate change. 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: Devihal-2 micro-watershed (Nilogal sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) is located in between 1506’ – 1508’ North latitudes and 75035’ – 75037’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 471 ha, bounded by Chabbi village on north, Madki Khanapur and Nadigatti villages on the west, Devihal village on the east with an 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 Devihal-2 Microwatershed (Nilogal subwatershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 51.0 to 49.0 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 57 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 75 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among all sample households.  About 30 per cent of households have a Bhima and Yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (80 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 90 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 70 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 8 per cent of sample households.  Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevalent among 10 per cent of farm households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 80 per cent of households. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.12 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The dry land of 89 % and irrigated land 11 % of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 53 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 42 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 13159 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 7435 per household, about 30 per cent of sample farmers owen plough and sprayer (20 %).  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 24479 per household; about 67 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 934.88 grams (2030 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 50 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.18189 per household. Among all sample farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.1201. 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. 694 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 241483 per year for the total area of 471.44 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 5639 ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 8704) followed by sunflower (Rs. 8554), horse gram (Rs. 4959) and groundnut (Rs. 339).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 2628/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 3120) followed by groundnut (Rs. 2408) and horse gram (Rs. 2355).  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 sunflower (Rs. 35658) followed by horse gram (Rs. 32967), maize (Rs. 30378) and groundnut (Rs. 22333). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is maize (53.8 %) followed by groundnut (18.9 %) sunflower (17.2) and horse gram (9.9 %).  In Devihal 2 major soil series are Thammadahalli soil are having moderately shallow soil depth covered around 36.04 per cent of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing maize. Kanchanahalli soil series are having shallow soil depth covered around 17.4 per cent of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing groundnut (40 %), horse gram (20 %) and sunflower (40 %). Chikkasavanur soil series are shallow soil depth covered around 7.1 per cent of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing groundnut (17.2 %) and maize (82.8 %). Kaggalipura series are having shallow soil depth covered around 12.1 per cent of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing horse gram, Devihal soil series are having very shallow soil depth cover around 5.4 per cent of area presently growing maize (50 %) and sunflower (50 %). Vaddarahalli series are having deep soil depth cover around 1.1 per cent of area; crops are maize (57.1 %) and sunflower (42.9 %).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for groundnut ranges between Rs. 38930/ha in CSR soil (with BCR of 1.12) and Rs.24612/ha in KNH soil (with BCR of 1.05).  In maize the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 59727/ha in DVH soil (with of 1.21) and Rs. 23088/ha in CSR soil (with BCR of 1.62).  In horse gram the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs. 31783/ha in KGP soil (with BCR of 1.22) and Rs. 15065/ha in KNH soil (with BCR of 1.05).  In sunflower the cost of cultivation range between is Rs. 34268/ha in DVH soil (with BCR of 0.96) and Rs. 19716 in KNH soil (with BCR of 1.91).  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 on 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. 4  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.  By adopting recommended package of practices by following the soil test fertiliser recommendation, there is scope to increase yield in groundnut maize (76.2 to 58.3 %), sunflower (43.8 to 29.1 %), groundnut (56.6 to 49.4 %), and maize (84.4 to 52.7%).