LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MADDENAHALLI (4B3D3N1a) MICROWATERSHED Gubbi Taluk, Tumkur District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Maddenahalli 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 boundries. The soil map shows the geographic distribution and extent, characterstics, classification, behaviour and use potentials of the soils in the microwartershed. The present study covers an area of 588 ha in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought- prone with an average annual rainfall of 813 mm, of which about 466 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 196 mm during north-east and the remaining 151 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 95 per cent is covered by soils, five per cent by others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 6 soil series and 18 soil phases (management units) and 5 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from 3rd week of June to third 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 250 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing 34 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 95 per cent area is suitable for agriculture.  About 95 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm) to very deep (>150 cm).  About 17 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface and 78 per cent loamy soils.  About 56 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 34 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel) and 6 per cent has very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) soils.  About 55 per cent has soils that are very low (<50mm/m) to low (51-100 mm/m) in available water capacity, 23 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 18 per cent has very high (>200 mm/m) available water capacity.  About 83 per cent of the area has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and 12 per cent area has nearly level (0-1%).  An area of about 74 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 22 per cent moderately eroded (e2).  An area of about 28 per cent has soils that are slightly acidic (pH 6.0-6.5),40 per cent area moderately acid (pH 5.5-6.0), 28 per cent strongly acid (pH 5.0-5.5) and 6 per cent area has neutral (pH 6.5-7.3).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 63 per cent of the soils are low (<0.5%) in organic carbon and 32 per cent soils are medium (0.5-0.75%).  Entire area is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 19 per cent of the soils are low (<145 kg/ha), medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 73 per cent area and 3 per cent of the soils are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is high (>10 ppm) in about 1 per cent area and medium (10-20 ppm) in about 94 per cent area.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 95 per cent area and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in <1 per cent area.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire microwatershed area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 43 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 52 per cent of soils of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 34 major crops grown in the microwatershed was assessed and the areas that are highly suitable (Class S1) and moderately suitable (Class 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 219 (37) 18 (3) Guava 86 (15) 423 (72) Fodder Sorghum 219 (37) 18 (3) Pomegranate 219 (37) 18 (3) Maize - 237 (40) Banana 219 (37) 18 (3) Upland paddy 219 (37) 68 (12) Jackfruit 219 (37) 18 (3) Finger millet 219 (37) 68 (12) Jamun 219 (37) 18 (3) Red gram 219 (37) 18 (3) Musambi 219 (37) 18 (3) Horse gram 219 (37) 340 (58) Lime 219 (37) 18 (3) Field bean 219 (37) 18 (3) Cashew 86 (15) 405 (69) Cowpea 219 (37) 18 (3) Custard apple 219 (37 ) 340 (58) Groundnut 86 (15) 322 (55) Amla 219 (37 ) 340 (58) Sunflower 219 (37) 18 (3) Tamarind 219 (37) 18 (3) Onion 133 (23) 104 (18) Marigold 219 (37) 18 (3) Chilli 219 (37) 18 (3) Chrysanthemum 219 (37) 18 (3) Brinjal 219 (37) 18 (3) Jasmine 219 (37) 18 (3) Tomato 219 (37) 18 (3) Coconut 86 (15) 151 (26) Mango 219 (37) 18 (3) Arecanut 86 (15) 151 (26) Sapota 219 (37) 18 (3) Mulbery 25 (5) (4557) 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 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 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. This would help 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: Maddenahalli micro-watershed (Bangihalli sub-watershed, Gubbi taluk, Tumkur district) is located in between 13027’ – 13028’ North latitudes and 76051’ – 76053’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 588.21 ha, bounded by Sanabanahalli, Maranahalli, Madhenahalli and Pinnenahalli 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 eco system services were quantified. Results: The socio-economic outputs for the Maddenahalli micro-watershed (Bangihalli sub-watershed, Gubbi taluk, Tumkur district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 59.2 to 40.8 Per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is 57.1 around per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 87.8 per cent.  Social groups among all are general caste.  Among all farm households having liquefied petroleum gas is the source of energy for a cooking.  About 50 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Farm households are having MGNREGA card only 20 per cent for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 70 percent of farm households.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 80 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making is around 77.8 per cent of households were found. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 0.72 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The rainfed land is 91 per cent and 9 per cent of irrigated land is cultivated land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 53.1 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 14.3 per cent of the sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.16772 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 104460 per household; about 70 per cent of sample farmers having plough and bullock cart.  The average value of livestock is around Rs.17271 per household; about 81.25 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 455.7 grams (1138.2 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Among all sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.102052 per household. About 50 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.818. 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. 442 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 247521per year for the total area of 588.21 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 70428/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in Mango (Rs. 227566) followed by areca nut (Rs. 105087), coconut (Rs. 84360), ragi (Rs.7727), sorghum (Rs. 600) and paddy is negative return.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 3356/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in paddy (Rs. 4693), sorghum (Rs. 3356) and ragi (Rs. 2020).  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 coconut (Rs. 277513) followed by mango (Rs. 65867), sorghum (Rs. 31043), paddy (Rs. 14463), ragi (Rs.12515) and areca nut (Rs.4284). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is ragi (28.4 %) followed by areca nut (28.4 %), sorghum (23.5 %), coconut (12.9 %), mango (5.9 %) and paddy (1.1 %).  In Maddenahalli micro-watershed, major soil series are Balapur series having very deep soil depth covered around 46.23 % of area; major crops are areca nut (82.5 %), and ragi (17.5 %). Kadagathur soils series are having very deep soil depth covered around 14.64 % of area on this soil farmers are presently growing areca nut (20.6 %), coconut (16.1 %), ragi (31.6%) and sorghum (31.6 %). Ranatur soils series are having very deep soil depth covers around 17.98 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing coconut (13.4 %), mango (18.0 %), ragi (27.5%) and sorghum (41.1 %). Thimmasandra soils series are having very deep soil depth covers around 3.11 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing paddy (50 %) and sorghum (50 %).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for coconut range between Rs 97036/ha in KDT soil (with of 2.01) and Rs. 69905/ha in RTR soil (with BCR of 1.11).  In areca nut the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs.69122/ha in KDT soil (with BCR of 1.92) and Rs.8499/ha in BPR soil (with BCR of 18.24).  In sorghum the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 25729/ha KDT soil (with BCR of 0.98) and Rs.16497/ha RTR soil (with BCR of 1.62).  In ragi the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 37931/ha BPR soil (with BCR of 1.18) and Rs.15857/ha KDT soil (with BCR of 1.51).  In mango the cost of cultivation in RTR soil Rs.28582/ha (with BCR of 8.96) and  In paddy the cost of cultivation in RTR soil Rs.32164/ha (with BCR of 1.62).  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. 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 areca nut (91.4 to 91.6 %), coconut (8.1 to 79.9 %), sorghum (57.7to 73.9 %) and ragi (68.9 to 76.0 %), mango (63.0 %) and paddy (85.4 %).