LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BALACHAKRA-1 (4D5B1O1b) MICROWATERSHED Balichakra Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Balachakra-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 530 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 489 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, about 15 ha (3%) covered by rock outcrops and 28 ha (5%) by others (habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 9 soil series and 12 soil phases (management units) and 6 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 488 ha (92%) in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 7 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep (100 - 150 cm) 25 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100) whereas 41 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50 -75 cm) and 20 per cent soils are very shallow and shallow (<25 -50 cm) in the microwatershed.  About 3 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 71 percent soils are loamy and 18 per cent soils clayey at the surface.  Maximum area of about 82 percent soils are non gravelly (<15%) and about 10 percent is gravelly (15-35%) soils in the microwatershed.  About 4 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 25 percent soils are medium (51-100), 18 per cent soils are low (51- 100 mm/m) and 45 per cent area is very low (<50 mm/m) available water capacity.  About 10 per cent area of the microwatershed has gently sloping (3-5% slope) lands, 78 per cent area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and 4 per cent is nearly level (0-1%) lands.  An area of about 88 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded and 4 percent soils are slightly eroded (e1).  An area of about 19 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction, about 73 per cent soil are slightly to moderately alkaline (pH 7.3-8.4) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is dominantly <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  An area of about 89 percent is medium (0.50-0.75%) and 3 percent is high (>0.75%) in organic carbon content.  About <1 percent is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus. About 81 percent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 11 percent soils are low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area of about 1 percent is high (>337kg/ha), about 57 percent is medium (145- 337kg/ha) and 34 percent is low (<145kg/ha) in available potassium.  An area of about 68 percent is medium (10-20ppm) and 24 percent area is low (<10ppm) in available sulphur.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in a maximum area of about 89 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 3 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) in the entire cultivated 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 75(14) 102(19) Guava - 75(14) Maize 75(14) 102(19) Sapota - 75(14) Bajra 75(14) 102(19) Pomegranate - 75(14) Groundnut - 157(30) Musambi - 75(14) Sunflower - 75(14) Lime - 75(14) Redgram - 95(18) Amla 75(14) 82(15) Bengal gram - - Cashew - - Cotton - 75(14) Jackfruit - 75(14) Chilli 75(14) 82(15) Jamun - - Tomato 75(14) 82(15) Custard apple - 157(30) Brinjal 75(14) 82(15) Tamarind - - Onion 75(14) 82(15) Mulberry - 75(14) Bhendi 75(14) 82(15) Marigold 75(14) 82(15) Drumstick - 75(14) Chrysanthemum 75(14) 82(15) Mango - -  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 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 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 Balachakra-1 is located at North latitude 160 41’ 8.752” and 160 39' 29.062" and East longitude 770 17’ 8.217'' and 770 15’ 52.036” covering an area of about 529.94 ha coming unde Balichakra village of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Balachakra-1 micro watersheds of Kilankeri subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 farmers were sampled in Balachakra-1 micro-watershed among households surveyed 4 (11.43%) were marginal, 19 (54.29%) were small, 5 (14.29 %) were semi medium and 4 (11.43 %) were medium farmers. 3 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 96 (61.15%) men and 61 (38.85 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4.7, marginal farmers were were 3, small farmers were 4.7, semi medium farmers were 4.6 and medium farmers were 4.5.  Majority of the respondents (49.04%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 63.69 per cent illiterates, 34.38 per cent pre university education and 1.27 per cent attained graduation.  About, 82.86 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 22.86 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 58.60 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 97.14 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 2.86 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 82.86 per cent possess TV, 17.14 per cent possess mixer grinder, 82.86 per cent possess mobile phones and 11.43 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 31.43 per cent of the households possess plough, 2.86 per cent possess tractor, 34.29 per cent possess bullock cart.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 11.43 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.94, women available in the micro watershed was 1.94, hired labour (men) available was 11.38 and hired labour (women) available was 11.22. 2  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 85.00 per cent (59.45 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 15.00 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 3.00 live bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 8.57 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Groundut, Green gram, Paddy and cropping intensity was recorded as 91.45 per cent.  Out of the sample households 20.00 percent possessed bank account and 20.00 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 20.00 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 57.14 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Groundut, Green gram and Paddy was Rs.26436.56, 46397.95, 29260.31 and 109143.52 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.10, 1: 1.30, 1: 1.34 and 1: 0.90 respectively.  Further, 22.86 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 5.71 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 94894.29 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 57180.00 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 5 horticulture trees and 113 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Regarding marketing channels, 77.14 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 14.29 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 97.14 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (68.57%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 65.71 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 97.14 per cent of the households.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 45.71 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 97.14 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 28.57 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 97.14 per cent of the households possessed BPL card. 3  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (97.14%), pulses (85.71%) and oilseeds (45.71%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (68.57%) wild animal menace on farm field (74.29%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (82.86%), inadequacy of irrigation water (17.14%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (91.43%), high rate of interest on credit (54.29%), low price for the agricultural commodities (57.14%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (60.00%), inadequate extension services (5.71%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (71.43%), Less rainfall (22.86%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (17.14%).