LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DADAL (4D5B1P2d) MICROWATERSHED Sydhapura Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Dadal 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 and use potentials of the soils in the microwartershed. The present study covers an area of 568 ha in Dadal microwatershed in Yadgir taluk of Yadgir 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 96 per cent is covered by soils, four per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 9 soil series and 15 soil phases (management units) and 4 land use classes.  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 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 96 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 4 per cent is not suitable for agriculture but well suited for forestry, pasture, agro forestry, silvi-pasture, recreation, installation of wind mills and as habitat for wildlife.  About 11 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100cm), about 69 per cent deep (100-150cm) to very deep (>150 cm) and 17 per cent are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm) soils.  About 81 per cent of the area has clayey soils and 15 per cent loamy soils at the surface.  About 89 per cent of the area has non-gravelly and 7 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel).  About 69 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity, 17 per cent medium (100-150 mm/m) and about 11 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) to very low (<50 mm/m).  About 96 per cent of the area has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 4 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 85 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 8 per cent severely eroded (e3).  An area of about 25 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), about 61 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) and about 10 per cent very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm- 1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 71 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%), 8 per cent low (<0.5%) and 17 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of 22 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha), 73 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) and only 1 per cent high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 49 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 47 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 69 per cent area, medium (10- 20 ppm) in 26 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in about 2 per cent area.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 2 per cent, 58 per cent medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) and high (>1.0 ppm) in about 35 per cent.  About 14 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 82 per cent sufficient (>4.5 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  Available zinc is deficient in all the soils.  The land suitability for 27 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, price and finally the demand and supply position. Land suitability for various crops in the Dadal microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum - 503 (89) Guava - - Maize - 16 (3) Pomegranate - 450 (79) Red gram - 450 (79) Jackfruit - - Bajra - 503 (89) Jamun - 390(69) Ground nut - 16 (3) Musambi - 450 (79) Sunflower - 450 (79) Lime - 450 (79) Cotton - 503 (89) Cashew - - Bengalgram - 503 (89) Custard apple 503 (89) Chilli - 503 (89) Amla - 503 (89) Tomato - 16 (3) Tamarind - 390(69) Drumstick - 450 (79) Marigold - 503 (89) Mulberry - - Chrysanthemum - 503 (89) Mango - - Sapota - - Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 4 identified LUCs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, 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 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. SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS 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: The Dadal micro-watershed (Yadgir taluk and district) is located in between 16031’ – 16033’ North latitudes and 77016’ – 77019’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 567.79 ha, bounded by Balacheda, Daddala, Kadechoora, Rachanallii and Shettilli 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 Dadal micro-watershed in Yadgir taluk and district are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 65.3 to 34.7 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age group 18 to 50 of population is around 60.56 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 59.6 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) are around 70 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among all sample households.  About 44.2 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 9.3 per cent farm households having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 95.3 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 37.2 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 95 per cent of households were found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.39 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The account for dry land of 59.9 ha among the total cultivated land among the sample households. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation is only 17.4 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 51.2 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.11109 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs.207653 per household, about 25.58 per cent of sample farmers are owing plough.  The average value of livestock is around Rs.23165 per household; about 79.17 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 1131.2 grams (2651.2 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition recommendation at 827 gram. Around 47 per cent of sample households are consuming more than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 57157 per household. About 100 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs.3546. 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. Rs.16379/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in cotton (Rs.27737) followed by paddy (Rs.21084), maize (Rs.16045), green gram (Rs. 13626), red gram (Rs. 11567) and groundnut (Rs. 10212).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs.1413/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 2223) followed by groundnut (Rs.1029), and paddy (Rs.988).  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 red gram (Rs.47632) followed by cotton (Rs.46455), green gram (Rs.42645), paddy (Rs. 42471), groundnut (Rs. 27916) and maize (Rs. 26410). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is redgram (41.6 %) followed by cotton (37.6 %), groundnut (9 %), paddy (4.7 %), green gram (4.1 %) and maize (2.7 %).  In Dadal micro watershed, major soils are Soil of Granite and Granite Gneiss Landscape of Hegganakera (HGN) series are having very deep soil deep cover around 42.03 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing cotton (81.7 %) and redgram (18.3 %). Kudlura (KDR) and Sowrashtrahalli (SWR) are having deep soil depth cover around 14.02 % and 12.64 % of areas, respectively the 3 crops are cotton, groundnut, paddy, red gram, and green gram. Rachanalli (RHN) soil is having moderately deep soil depth cover around 10.59 % of area; crops are cotton and red gram. Balched (BLD) and Yalleri (YLR) are having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 6.48 % and 0.25 % of areas, respectively; crops are groundnut, red gram, cotton and maize.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for cotton ranges between Rs.41969/ha in BLD soil (with BCR of 1.41) and Rs.19813/ha in SWR soil (with BCR of 3.62).  In green gram the cost of cultivation is Rs.14162/ha in SWR soil (with BCR of 1.96).  In groundnut the costs of cultivation range between Rs.28742/ha in YLR soil (with BCR of 1.68) and Rs.28009/ha in KDR soil (with BCR of 1.27).  In maize the cost of cultivation is Rs.35825/ha in BLD soil (with BCR of 1.48).  In paddy the cost of cultivation range between is Rs. 31583/ha in SWR soil (with BCR of 1.61) and Rs. 28742 in KDR soil (with BCR of 1.70).  In red gram the cost of cultivation range between is Rs. 30294/ha in HGN soil (with BCR of 1.28) and Rs. 15964/ha in YLR soil (with BCR of 2.01).  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. 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 cotton (19 to 66.3 %), maize (62 %), paddy (54.2 to 56 %), and red gram (27.3 to 47.6)