LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MANNUR-1 (4D5C5C2b) MICROWATERSHED Afzalpur Taluk, Gulbarga District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Mannur-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 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 727 ha in Mannur-1 microwatershed in Afzalpur taluk of Kalaburgi district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought- prone with an average annual rainfall of 680 mm, of which about 482 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 119 mm during north-east and the remaining 79 mm during the rest of the year. 85 per cent area is covered by soils and remaining 15 per cent is by habitation and waterbodies. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to one soil series and 4 soil phases (mapping units) and one land use class.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 3rd week of June to 3rd 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 18 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.  Entire area has very deep (>150 cm) soils n the microwatershed.  Entire area has clayey soils at the surface.  Entire area has non-gravelly soils in the microwatershed.  Entire area of about 727 ha (85%) has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 70 per cent of the area has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and about 15 per cent area is gently sloping (0-1% slope) sloping lands.  An area of about 51 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 33 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and less than one per cent soils are severely eroded (e3).  Entire area is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 -9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 67 per cent area has soils that are medium (0.5-0.75%) and 18 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of 36 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) and 49 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  Entire area has soils that are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 18 per cent area, medium (10-20 ppm) in 62 per cent area and high (>20 ppm) in about 5 per cent area.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 19 per cent area, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 66 per cent area and high (>0.5%) in <1 per cent area.  About 33 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 52 per cent area sufficient (>4.5ppm) in iron.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  Entire area has soils that are deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc.  The land suitability for 18 major crops (agricultural and horticultural) 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, farm 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 - 616 (85) Sapota - - Maize - - Jackfruit - - Red gram - 616 (85) Jamun - 616 (85) Sunflower - 616 (85) Musambi 372 (51) 244 (34) Cotton - 616 (85) Lime 372 (51) 244 (34) Sugarcane - - Cashew - - Soybean - 616 (85) Custard apple 611 (84) 5 (<1) Guava - - Amla 375 (51) 244 (34) Mango - - Tamarind - (6165) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the one identified LUCs 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 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. That would help in supplementing the farm income, provide fodder and fuel and generate lot of biomass, which inturn would help in maintaining the ecological balance and help 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: Mannur-1 Microwatershed (Mannur sub-watershed, Afzalpur taluk and Gulbarga district) is located in between 17017’ – 17019’ North latitudes and 7603’ – 7606’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 727 ha, bounded by Agarkhed, Chikkamanur, Karajgi villages and Maharashtra State 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 the Mannur-1 Microwatershed (Mannur subwatershed, Afzalpur taluk and Gulbarga district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 65 to 35 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 58 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 79 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 70 per cent.  About 50 per cent of households having Bhīma and Yashaswini health card.  Only 10.0 percent of farm households are having MGNREGA card for rural employments.  Dependence on ration cards for food grain through public distribution system is around 80.0 per cent  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 30.0 per cent of sample households.  Rural migration to urban centre for employment is prevalent among 10 .0 per cent of farm households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 50.0 per cent of households were found. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.54 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land of 72.8 % and irrigated land 27.2 % of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation is around 91 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 22513 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 168445 per household, about 30 per cent of sample farmers having plough and weeder (30 %).  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 49250 per households; about 73 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 885.7 grams (1944 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. 33179 per household. About 90 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs. 1338. 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. 795.55 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 490059 per year for the total area of 727.02 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs 30747/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in onion (Rs.88666) followed by black gram (Rs.14268), redgram (Rs.13686) and bengalgram (Rs. 6367).  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 bengal gram (Rs. 49249) followed by black gram (Rs. 66244), redgram (Rs. 50119) and sugarcane (Rs. 156235). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is bengalgram (37 %) followed by and sugarcane (9 %) and redgram (54 %). 3  In Mannur1 micro-watershed, major soil is Mannur series is having very deep soil. On this soil farmers are presently growing bengalgram (36.3 %), redgram (34.8 %) black gram (19.8 %) and sugarcane(9.1 %).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for sugarcane ranges between Rs. 119647/ha in MAR soil (with BCR with of 1.74).  In redgram cost of cultivation in MAR soil is Rs 32345/ha (BCR with of 1.48)  In bengalgram cost of cultivation in MAR soil is Rs. 25724/ha (with BCR of 1.59).  In blackgram cost of cultivation in MAR soil is Rs. 24101/ha (with BCR of 1.59).  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 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 bengalgram (51.3 %), Sugarcane (44.6 %), redgram ( 24.6 %) and blackgram (1.7 %).