LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SAMBAR-2 (4D2D6O1c) MICROWATERSHED Balichakra Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Sambar-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 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 530 ha in Sambar-2 microwatershed in Yadgir taluk and district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as droughtprone with an average annual rainfall of 866 mm, of which about 652 mm is received during south–west monsoon, 138 mm during north-east and the remaining 76 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 99 per cent is covered by soils and less than one per cent by others (water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 12 soil phases (management units) and 7 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from the 1st week of June to 4th 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 26 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  Entire land area of the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  An area of about 12 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 15 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100cm) and about 73 per cent soils are deep (100-150cm) to very deep (>150 cm) soils.  About 20 per cent of the area has clayey soils, 44 per cent loamy soils and 36 per cent sandy soils at the surface.  An area of about 99 per cent has non-gravelly and <1 per cent are gravelly.  About 30 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity, 50 per cent is medium (101-150 mm/m), 15 per cent low (51-100mm/m) and about 5 per cent very low (<50 mm/m).  Maximum area of 99 per cent in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands and 1 per of nearly level (0-1%) lands.  Small area of about 1 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 99 per cent is moderately eroded (e2) and <1 per cent is severely eroded.  An area of about 36 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 28 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 33 per cent soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4) and about 1 per cent soils that are 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 <1 per cent is low (<0.5%), 53 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 46 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of 44 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha), 46 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 9 per cent high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 12 per cent is low (<145 kg/ha), 81 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 5 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in 45 per cent, medium (10-20 ppm) in 50 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in 4 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 23 per cent, 62 per cent medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) and high (>1.0 ppm) in about 14 per cent area of the microwatershed.  About 1 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 99 per cent sufficient (>4.5 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Entire area of the microwatershed is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc.  The land suitability for 26 major 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 Sambar-2 microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum - 396 (75) Sapota - 164(31) Maize - 161 (30) Guava - 164 (31) Red gram - 399(75) Pomegranate - 399 (75) Bajra - 505 (95) Jackfruit - 123 (23) Ground nut - 202 (38) Jamun - 322(61) Sunflower - 359 (68) Musambi - 400 (75) Cotton 64 (12) 332(63) Lime - 400 (75) Bengalgram 64 (12) 333 (63) Cashew - - Chilli - 374(70) Custard apple - 397 (75) Tomato - 202 (38) Amla - 396 (75) Drumstick - 399 (75) Tamarind - 322 (31) Mulberry - 123 (23) Marigold - 437 (82) Mango - 123(23) Chrysanthemum - 437 (82) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 7 identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, fibre and 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 for 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 are edible and produce lot of biomass that helps to restore the ecological balance in the micro watershed.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: Sambar-2 micro-watershed (Yadgir taluk and district) is located in between 16034’ – 16037’ North latitudes and 77020’ – 77022’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 530.44 ha, bounded by Sambara and Vankasambara 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 the Sambar-2 micro-watershed in Yadgir taluk and district are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 57.5 to 42.5 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age group 18 to 50 of population is around 57.7 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 56 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) are around 40 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among all sample households.  About 11 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 20 per cent farm households having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 91 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 20 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 14 per cent of households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 2.66 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The account for dry land of 76.3 per cent and irrigated land of 23.7 per cent among the total cultivated land among the sample households. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation is only 0.5 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 38.9 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.151977 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs.149522 per household, about 25.7 per cent of sample farmers are owing plough.  The average value of livestock is around Rs.21092 per household; about 68.9 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 750.2 grams (1841 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition recommendation at 827 gram. Around 83 per cent of sample households are consuming more than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 27779 per household. About 100 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs.2078. 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 average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 8799/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in groundnut (Rs.13614) followed by paddy (Rs.13217), cotton (Rs.12066), maize (Rs. 10669), redgram (Rs. 6185), onion (Rs. 5440), green gram (Rs. 5066) and bengal gram (Rs. 4132).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs.1175/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in greengram (Rs.78656) followed by bengal gram (Rs.68231), red gram (Rs.44490), groundnut (Rs. 23413) and onion (Rs.8398).  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 value of per hectare water used and value of water was maximum in greengram (Rs. 75812) followed by redgram (Rs. 47218), cotton (Rs. 39009) and groundnut (Rs. 22905). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is redgram (45 %) followed by paddy (17.4 %), cotton (15.0 %), groundnut (9.3 %), maize (6.0 %), green gram (5.1%), onion (1.3 %) and bengal gram (0.8 %).  In Sambar-2 micro watershed, major soils are Soil of Granite and Granite Gneiss Landscape of Yalleri (YLR) series are having moderately shallow soil deep cover 3 around 14.5 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing cotton (9.9 %), green gram (24.4%), maize (6 %), paddy (24.7 %) and redgram (34.7 %). Gondedagi (GDG) is also having deep soil depth cover around 23.17 % of area; the crops are cotton (18.2 %), green gram (4.5 %), groundnut (9.1%), maize (4.5%), paddy (18.2%) and redgram (45.5 %). Nagalapur (NGP) and Belagundi (BGD) soil series having very deep soil depth cover around 12.03 % and 12.67 % of areas, respectively, crops are cotton, maize, paddy, green gram, onion and red gram. Sambra (SBR) and Duppali (DPL) soil series are having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 4.54 % and 7.19 % of area, respectively. The major crops grown are cotton, green gram, maize, onion, red gram and groundnut. Gowdagera (GWD) soil series are having moderately deep soil depth covers around 14.5 % of area, the major crop grown is green gram (2.3 %), groundnut (4.5 %), maize (4.5 %), paddy (25 %) and Red gram (63.6 %). Bomraldoddi (MDR) and low land soil of Thumakur (TMK) soil series are having very deep soil depth covers around 11.98 % and 0.84 % of area, the major crop grown is redgram, cotton, maize, bengal gram, groundnut.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for cotton ranges between Rs.46021/ha in YDR soil (with BCR of 1.37) and Rs.23343/ha in SBR soil (with BCR of 1.11).  In green gram the costs of cultivation range between Rs.57826/ha in GDG soil (with BCR of 1.05) and Rs.20043/ha in YDR soil (with BCR of 1.08).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation range between Rs.35102/ha in BGD soil (with BCR of 1.15) and Rs.22500/ha in SBR soil (with BCR of 1.29).  In maize the cost of cultivation range between is Rs.80687/ha in NGP soil (with BCR of 1.07) and Rs. 18949/ha in BGD soil series (with BCR of 1.17).  In onion the cost of cultivation is range between is Rs. 57562/ha in DPL soil (with BCR of 1.16) and Rs. 33445 in BGD soil (with BCR of 1.11).  In paddy the cost of cultivation range between is Rs. 34899/ha in NGP soil (with BCR of 1.84) and Rs. 22364/ha in YDR soil (with BCR of 1.06).  In red gram the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 52593.7/ha in DPL soil (with BCR of 1.13) and Rs. 19131/ha in GWD soil (with BCR of 1.2)  In bengal gram the cost of cultivation in MDR soil is Rs.35388/ha (with BCR of 1.12).  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 soils to maximize returns. 4 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 redgram (9.1 to 61 %), cotton (35.2 % to 50.5 %), paddy (9.1 %) and groundnut (7.4 %).