LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KHANAPHUR HOSALLI-3 (4D5B1A1e) MICROWATERSHED Hatthakuni Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Khanapur Hosalli-3Microwatershed 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 506 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 425 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 5 ha by rock outcrops and 76 ha by others (habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 15 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.  About 425 ha area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 2 per cent of area is very shallow (<25 cm), 50 per cent of area is shallow (25-50 cm), 5 per cent of area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 17 per cent of area is moderately deep (75-100 cm) and 10 per cent of area is deep (100 - 150 cm).  About 33 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 33 per cent loamy soils and 19 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 64 per cent of area in the microwatershed is non gravelly (<15%) and 20 per cent area is gravelly (15-35%).  About 10 per cent of area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 9 per cent is low (51-100 mm/m), 14 per cent of area is medium (101-150 mm/m) and 52 per cent of area is very low (<50 mm/m).  Maximum area of 82 per cent in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1- 3% slope) lands and 2 per cent of area is gently sloping (3-5%) lands.  Maximum area of about 80 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded and 4 per cent of area is severely (e3) eroded.  Entire area of the microwatershed is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) is dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline in the entire area of the microwatershed.  An area of 14 per cent is high (>0.75%), 67 per cent area is medium (0.5-0.75%) and 4 per cent area is low (<0.50%) in organic carbon content.  An area of about 44 per cent is medium (23-57 kg/ha), 39 per cent of area is high (>57 kg/ha) and 1 per cent of area is low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus content in the microwatershed.  An area of about 74 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 10 per cent of area is low (<145 kg/ha) in available potassium content.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 53 per cent, 24 per cent of area is medium (10 -20 ppm) and 7 per cent of area is high (>20 ppm) in the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of 81 per cent and medium (0.5-0.1 ppm) in an area of 3 per cent of the microwatershed.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire 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 an area of 74 per cent and sufficient in an area of 10 per cent 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 14 (3) 45 (9) Guava - 19 (4) Maize 19 (4) 40 (8) Sapota - 19 (4) Bajra 19 (4) 40 (8) Pomegranate - 19 (4) Groundnut 5 (1) 41 (8) Musambi - 19 (4) Sunflower - 19 (4) Lime - 19 (4) Redgram - 32(6) Amla 19 (4) 27 (5) Bengal gram - - Cashew - 14 (3) Cotton - 14 (3) Jackfruit - 19 (4) Chilli 19 (4) 27 (5) Jamun - - Tomato 19 (4) 27 (5) Custard apple 19 (4) 27 (5) Brinjal 19 (4) 27 (5) Tamarind - - Onion 19 (4) 27 (5) Mulberry - 19 (4) Bhendi 19 (4) 27 (5) Marigold 19 (4) 27 (5) Drumstick - 19 (4) Chrysanthemum 19 (4) 27 (5) 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, 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 Khanapur Hosalli-3 is located at North latitude 160 56’ 16.904” and 160 53’ 57.614” and East longitude 770 14’ 20.154'' and 770 12’ 57.079” covering an area of about 505.34 ha coming under Khanapur Hosahalli, Kootagera and Motahalli villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 respondents, 19 (54.29%) were marginal, 8(22.86%) were small and 4 (11.43%) were semi medium.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 77 (51.68%) men and 72 (48.32%) were women.  Majority of the respondents (48.32%) were in the age group of 35-60 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, majority there were 55.03 per cent illiterates, 2.01 per cent attained graduation.  About, 82.86 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 11.43 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 60.40 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 80 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 20 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 100 per cent possess TV, 88.57 per cent possess mixer grinder and 97.14 per cent possess mobile phones.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 11.43 per cent of the households possess bullocks and goat, 5.71 per cent possess local cow, 2.86 per cent possess buffalo and 11.43 per cent possess goat respectively.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.46, women available in the micro watershed was 1.17, hired labour (men) available and hired labour (women) available was 4.71.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents (33.03 ha), 97.23 per cent of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 2.77 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 2 bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 5.71 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Jowar, Green gram and Groundnut and cropping intensity was recorded as 100 per cent.  The sample households possessed 97.14 per cent bank account and 25.71 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 82.86 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 60 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 80 per cent from Cooperative bank.  Majority of the respondents (100 %) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 75 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations. 2  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton, Jowar, Green gram and Groundnut was Rs.35503.13 , 43272.81, 40596.22, 34735.50, and 75423.30 with benefit cost ratio of 1:2.40, 1: 3.60, 1: 2.60, 1: 2.20, and 1:1.50 , respectively.  Further, 17.14 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 130044 in micro-watershed, of which Rs. 84174.29 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown horticulture crops was coconut (18), Lemon (3) and Mango (12) trees in the fields and forest specie have grown 22 teak trees, 59 neem trees and 7 tamarind trees in the field.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 7628.57 for land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 80 per cent depends on own funds and 2.86 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 74.29 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 11.43 per cent have sold by Agents/Traders.  Further, 71.43 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (11.43%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 91.43 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Firewood connection was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 97.14 per cent of the households and 25.71 per cent households has LPG.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 91.43 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 37.14 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100 per cent of the households possessed BPL card.  Cereals (94.29%), pulses (88.57%), oilseeds (85.71%) were adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (88.57%) wild animal menace on farm field (74.29%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (88.57%), inadequacy of irrigation water (85.71%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (85.71%), high rate of interest on credit (85.71%), low price for the agricultural commodities (88.57%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (62.86%), inadequate extension services (40%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (65.71%).