LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SOMANAHALLI (4D3D4L1d) MICROWATERSHED Chikkanayakanahalli Taluk, Tumkur District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Nelkud-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 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, behaviour and use potentials of the soils in the microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 649 ha in Nelkud-1 microwatershed in Gulbarga taluk of Gulbarga district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone with an average annual rainfall of 740 mm, of which about 540 mm is received during south–west monsoon, 126 mm during north-east and the remaining 74 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 94 per cent is covered by soils, six per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 7 soil series and 16 soil phases (management units) and four land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from the 3rd week of May to 1rd 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 19 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 82 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 12 per cent is not suitable for agriculture.  About 73 per cent area has shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm) and about 22 per cent are very shallow (<25 cm) soils.  Entire area in the microwatershed has clayey soils at the surface.  About 17 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils and 78 per cent gravelly to very gravelly soils (15-60 % gravel).  About 31 per cent of the area has soils that are very low (<50mm/m), 46 per cent medium (100-150 mm/m) and about 17 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 69 per cent of the area has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands, about 13 per cent is gently (3-5%) sloping and about 12 per cent has moderately sloping (5-10%) lands.  An area of about 10 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 60 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 24 per cent severely eroded (e3).  An area of about 25 per cent has soils that are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3 to 7.8), 18 per cent moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4), 2 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) and 49 per cent area is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 14 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 80 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  Major area of 7 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) and 88 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 27 per cent low (<145 kg/ha), 57 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 10 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 51 per cent area and medium (10-20 ppm) in 43 per cent area.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 32 per cent area, 62 per cent medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) and 1 per cent high (>1.0 ppm).  About 5 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 90 per cent sufficient (>4.5 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  About 21 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc and 73 per cent sufficient (>0.6 ppm).  The land suitability for 19 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 - 386 (59) Guava - - Maize - 386 (59) Jackfruit - - Red gram - 389 6(59) Jamun - - Sunflower - - Musambi - - Cotton - 386 (59) Lime - - Sugarcane - - Cashew - - Soybean - 386 (59) Custard apple - 386 (59) Bengal gram 296(46) 123 (19) Amla - 389 (59) Mango - - Tamarind - - Sapota - - Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the four identified LUCs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fibre and horticulture crops that helps sustained production and also in maintaining the ecological balance in the microwatershed.   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 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. This helps in maintaining an ecological balance and also contributes to 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: Nelkud-1 micro-watershed (Halikher sub-watershed, Gulbarga taluk, Gulbarga district) is located in between 17039’–17041’ North latitudes and 7706’–7708’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 649 ha, bounded by Kathalli, Itga, Rampur, Patvada, Gobbarwadi and Chintkota villages with length of growing period (LGP) 120- 150 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 Nelkud-1 Microwatershed (Halikher subwatershed, Gulbarga taluk, Gulbarga district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 68.2 to 31.8 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 75 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 63.6 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 80.0 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 90.0 per cent.  Only 30 per cent farm households are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 80.0 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 40.0 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 2.3 per cent of sample households.  Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevalent among 30.0 per cent of farm households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 90.0 per cent of households 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 2.0 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The total cultivated land is dry land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 22.7 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 68.2 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.19597 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs.7389 per household, about 30.0 per cent of sample farmers having plough and sprayer (30 %).  The average value of livestock is around Rs.29375 per household; about 64.3 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 979 grams (1999.6 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 30 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.225742 per household. About 40 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.2418. 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. 2388 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 1463607 per year for the total area of 649.02 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 22688/ha/year. Per hectare food grains production services is maximum in cotton (Rs. 28348) followed by redgram (Rs. 7027).  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 red gram (Rs.53573) and cotton (Rs.49758). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is redgram (88.2 %) and cotton (11.8 %). 3  In Nelked 1 Microwatershed, major soil is soil of Kinhi (KNH) series is having very shallow soil depth cover around 5.8 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing cotton. Dinsi (DSI) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover 7.67 % of area; crops grown are red gram. Gutti (GTT) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 37.9 % of areas, crops grown are cotton (27.5 %) and redgram (72.5 %) and Hobli (HBL) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 13.8 % of area, crops grown are redgram.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for redgram ranges between Rs.30897/ha in GTT soil (with BCR of 1.36) and Rs.11496/ha in DSI soil (with BCR of 3.29).  In cotton the cost of cultivation range between Rs.26856/ha in KNH soil (with BCR of 1.98 and Rs 15248/ha in GTT soil (with BCR of 2.99)).  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 in 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 strengthen 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 redgram (22.6 to 10.2 %) and cotton (33.3 to 22.1 %).