LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PASPOL-1 (4D2D6B1b) MICROWATERSHED Gurumitkal, Yadgir and Balichakra Hoblis, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Paspol-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 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 522 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 508 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils and 14 ha by others (habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 11 soil series and 13 soil phases (management units) and 7 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.  Entire area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 13 per cent area are very shallow to shallow (<25 to 50 cm), 30 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 25 per cent area soils area moderately deep (75-100 cm) and 30 per cent area are deep to very deep (100 to >150 cm).  About 13 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy, 38 per cent area loamy and 47 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  Maximum of 69 per cent area in the microwatershed is non gravelly (<15%) and 28 per cent is gravelly (15-35%).  About 30 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, <1 per cent is medium (101-150 mm/m), 55 per cent area low (51-100 mm/m) and 13 per cent area very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity.  Maximum area of about 95 per cent is very gently sloping (1-3% slope) and 2 per cent is nearly level (3-5% slope) lands.  An area of about 95 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded and 2 per cent area is slightly (e1) eroded.  An area of about 18 per cent area is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction, 41 per cent soils are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) and 39 per cent soils are moderately alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of entire soils of the microwatershed is dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 97 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) in organic carbon and high (>0.75%) in <1 per cent area.  78 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 19 per cent area is low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  Available potassium is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  About 48 per cent area is low (<0.5 ppm) in available boron and 49 per cent is medium (0.5-1.0 ppm).  About 80 per cent area is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in available iron and 17 per cent is deficient (<4.5 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire area of 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 144(28) 298(57) Guava - 130(25) Maize 16(3) 427(82) Sapota - 130(25) Bajra 16(3) 427(82) Pomegranate - 288(55) Groundnut - 204(39) Musambi 127(24) 160(31) Sunflower 98(19) 189(36) Lime 127(24) 160(30) Redgram - 288(55) Amla 16(3) 427(82) Bengal gram 158(30) 285(55) Cashew - 16(3) Cotton 98(19) 344(66) Jackfruit - 130(25) Chilli - 443(85) Jamun - 158(30) Tomato 16(3) 396(76) Custard apple 287(55) 155(30) Brinjal 48(9) 394(76) Tamarind - 158(30) Onion 46(9) 298(57) Mulberry - 204(39) Bhendi 77(15) 366(70) Marigold - 443(85) Drumstick - 288(55) Chrysanthemum - 443(85) Mango - 2(<1)  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, fibre and other horticulture crops.  Maintaining soil-health is vital for 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. This would help in not only supplementing the farm income but also provide fodder and fuel and 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 Paspol-1 is located at North latitude 160 47’ 31.324” and 160 45’ 26.562” and East longitude 770 18’ 25.677'' and 770 16’ 42.31” covering an area of about 522.02 ha coming under Pasapoola, Arakera. K and Gabapura Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Paspol-1 micro watersheds of Gopalapur subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 36 farmers were sampled in Paspol-1 micro-watershed among households surveyed 14 (38.89%) were marginal, 11 (30.56%) were small, 3 (8.33 %) were semi medium, 3 (8.33 %) were medium farmers. 5 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 103 (55.08%) men and 84 (44.92%) were women. The average population of landless was 4.2, marginal farmers were 4.9, small farmers were 5.5, semi medium farmers 6.7 and medium farmers were 5.7.  Majority of the respondents (41.71%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 57.75 per cent illiterates, 34.77 per cent pre university education and 4.81 per cent attained graduation.  About, 94.44 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 2.78 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 67.38 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 61.11 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 22.22 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 72.22 per cent possess TV, 11.11 per cent possess mixer grinder, 91.67 per cent possess mobile phones and 19.44 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 50.00 per cent of the households possess plough, 2.78 per cent possess tractor, 25.00 per cent possess bullock cart and 36.11 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 2.78 per cent possess local cow and 11.11 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.88, women available in the micro watershed was 1.38, hired labour (men) available was 15.13 and hired labour (women) available was 12.25.  Further, 2.78 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season. 2  In the study area, about 3.21 per cent of the respondents migrated from the micro watershed in search of jobs with an average distance of 2400.00 kms for about 6.00 months.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 70.53 per cent (36.83 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 29.47 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 5.00 live bore wells and 5.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 16.67 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Groundnut, Paddy and Green gram and cropping intensity was recorded as 100.11 per cent.  Out of the sample households 91.67 percent possessed bank account and 52.78 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 91.67 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 20.00 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 65.00 per cent from co-operative/Grameena bank.  Majority of the respondents (100.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton, Groundnut, Paddy and Green gram was Rs.30292.60, 56128.76, 44689.05, 54769.64 and 42769.64 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.30, 1: 1.30, 1: 1.10, 1: 1.30 and 1:1.90 respectively.  Further, 44.44 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 2.78 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 121635.56 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 67850.00 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 2 horticulture trees and 29 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 1277.78 for land development and Rs. 6944.44 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 2.63 per cent depends on own funds.  Regarding marketing channels, 91.67 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants.  Further, 91.67 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (44.44%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 83.33 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 77.78 per cent of the households and 22.22 per cent households has LPG connection. 3  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 91.67 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 61.11 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 (102.78%), pulses (97.22%) and oilseeds (30.56%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (72.22%) wild animal menace on farm field (77.78%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (86.11%), inadequacy of irrigation water (47.22%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (86.11%), high rate of interest on credit (86.11%), low price for the agricultural commodities (83.33%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (80.56%), inadequate extension services (58.33%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market(77.78%).