LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT HIMALAPUR (4D2D6A2a) MICROWATERSHED Gurumitkal Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Himalapur 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 boundaries. The soil map shows the geographic distribution and extent, characteristics, classification, behavior and use potentials of the soils in the microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 498 ha in Yadgir taluk & district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone 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 330 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, about 152 ha covered by forest and 17 ha by others (Habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 5 soil series and 7 soil phases (management units) and 3 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from 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 320 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing 29 major agricultural and horticultural crops was assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  An area about 330 ha (66%) in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 27 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep to very deep (100 - >150 cm) whereas 5 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50 -75 cm), 34 per cent soils are very shallow to shallow (<25 -50 cm).  About 8 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils and 57 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed has non gravelly (<15%) soils.  About 27 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 5 per cent soils are low (51-100 mm/m) and 34 per cent area very low (<50 mm/m) available water capacity.  About 58 per cent area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) land and 8 per cent is gently sloping (3-5%) soils.  An area of about 33 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded and 33 percent soils are severely eroded (e3).  An area of about 46 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction, about 20 per cent soil are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) soils.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is dominated by <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is high (>0.75) in organic carbon content.  About 19 percent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus and 48 percent soils are low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 6 percent of the soils are low (<145kg/ha) in available potassium, 36 percent soils are medium (145-337kg/ha) and 23 percent area high (>337kg/ha) in available potassium.  An area of about 32 percent is medium (10-20ppm) and 34 per cent area is low (<10 ppm) in available sulphur  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 65 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) of about <1 per cent. Soils.  Available iron content is sufficient (>4.5ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) which covers an area of 49 percent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) covers an area of 17 per cent in the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 29 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 60(12) 99(20) Sapota - - Maize - 159(32) Pomegranate - 134(27) Bajra - 159(32) Musambi 134(27) - Groundnut - - Lime 134(27) - Sunflower 60(12) 74(15) Amla - 159(32) Redgram - 134(27) Cashew - - Bengal gram 134(27) 25(5) Jackfruit - - Cotton 134(27) 25(5) Jamun - 134(27) Chilli - 85(17) Custard apple 134(27) 25(5) Tomato - 85(17) Tamarind - 134(27) Drumstick - 134(27) Mulberry - - Mango - - Marigold - 159(32) Guava - - Chrysanthemum - 159(32) Brinjal - 159(32) Bhendi - 159(32) Onion - 25(5)  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, fiber 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. This would help in not only supplementing the farm income but also provide fodder and fuel to generate lot of biomass which would help in maintaining an ecological balance and also contribute to mitigating the climate change. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Himalapur is located at North latitude 160 52’ 34.382” and 160 50' 38.077" and East longitude 770 20’ 51.651'' and 770 19’ 20.923” covering an area of about 498.01 ha coming under Himalapura and Chapetla Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Himalapur micro watersheds of Mokadampur subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 34 farmers were sampled in Himalapur micro-watershed among households surveyed 25 (73.53%) were marginal, 4 (11.76%) were small and 2 (5.88 %) were semi medium farmers. 3 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 83 (60.58%) men and 54 (39.42 %) were women. The average population of landless was 3.7, marginal farmers were 3.9, small farmers were 4.3 and semi medium farmers were 6.  Majority of the respondents (42.34%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 49.64 per cent illiterates, 0.73 percent were functional literates, 47.45 per cent pre university education and 3.65 per cent attained graduation.  About, 76.47 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 5.88 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 35.04 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 94.12 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 2.94 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 100.00 per cent possess TV.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 8.82 per cent of the households possess plough.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.53, women available in the micro watershed was 1.38, hired labour (men) available was 8.91 and hired labour (women) available was 7.34.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 94.95 per cent (24.04 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 5.05 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 1.00 live bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 2.94 per cent of the households. 2  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Groundnut, Bengal gram and cropping intensity was recorded as 100.00 per cent.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton, Groundnut and Bengal gram was Rs.36642.31, 78378.30, 30333.70 and 116785.65 with benefit cost ratio of 1:3.50, 1: 1.10, 1: 3.30 and 1: 0.99 respectively.  Further, 2.94 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 2.94 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 90000.00 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 39794.12 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 1 horticulture trees and 61 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Regarding marketing channels, 91.18 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants.  Further, 91.18 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (91.18%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 91.18 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 100.00 per cent of the households.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 100.00 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 100.00 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100.00 per cent of the households possessed BPL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (100.00%), pulses (94.12%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (91.18%) wild animal menace on farm field (8.82%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (88.24%), inadequacy of irrigation water (2.94%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (88.24%), high rate of interest on credit (14.71%), low price for the agricultural commodities (76.47%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (79.41%), inadequate extension services (8.82%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (64.71%).