LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEVIHAL-3 (4D4A3G1a) MICRO WATERSHED Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Devihal-3 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 boundries. The soil map shows the geographic distribution and extent, characterstics, classification and use potentials of the soils in the microwartershed. The present study covers an area of 435 ha in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought prone with an average annual rainfall of 633 mm of which about 363 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 165 mm during north-east and the remaining 105 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 97 per cent is covered by soils, three per cent by rock lands and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 23 soil phases (management units) and 7 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 3rd week of June to 1st 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 the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 97 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 3 per cent is not suitable for agriculture.  About 64 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) to very shallow (<25 cm), 17 per cent moderately deep (75-100 cm) and about 16 per cent are deep to very deep (100->150 cm) soils.  About 73 per cent of the area has loamy soils at the surface, 4 per sandy and 20 per cent of the area has clayey soils.  About 9 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 80 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel) and 9 per cent very gravelly (35- 60% gravel) soils.  About 16 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m), 81 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) to very low (<50mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 93 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands and 4 per cent gently sloping (3-5%).  An area of about 16 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 81 per cent moderately eroded (e2).  An area of about 44 ha are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 9 per cent slightly acid (pH 6-6.5) and 4 per cent are moderately acid (pH 5.5-6.0). About 19 per cent moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 18 per cent slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) and 3 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 51 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%), 30 per cent of the soils are high (>0.75%) and low (<0.5%) in about 16 per cent in organic carbon.  An area of about 86 per cent low (<23 kg/ha) and 11 per cent is medium in available phosphorus.  About 93 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and low (<145 kg/ha) in 4 per cent in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in about 57 per cent, 33 per cent area is low (<10 ppm) and 7 per cent area is high (>20 ppm).  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 54 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 43 per cent area.  Available iron is deficient in about 59 per cent area and sufficient in 38 per cent area.  Available zinc is deficient in about 84 per cent area and sufficient in 13 per cent area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  The land suitability for 23 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, prevailing 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 118 (27) 125(29) Sapota 43 (10) 102 (23) Maize 118 (27) 125(29) Jackfruit 35 (8) 27 (6) Cotton 71 (16) 192(44) Jamun 35 (8) 35 (8) Sunflower 71 (16) 192(44) Musambi 35 (8) 35 (8) Onion 137 (32) 125(29) Lime 35(8) 35 (8) Groundnut 137 (32) 200(46) Cashew 35 (8) 110 (25) Chilli 145 (33) 117(27) Custard apple 71 (16) 285(66) Sugarcane 71 (16) 75(17) Amla 71(16) 285 (66) Pomegranate 71 (16) 75 (17) Tamarind 35 (8) 35 (8) Tomato 145 (33) 116(27) Marigold 145 (33) 116 (27) Guava 63 (14) 8 (2) Chrysanthemum 145(33) 116 (27) Mango 35 (8) 35 (8) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 7 identified LCUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fibre 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 the 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 that would help in supplementing the income, provide fodder and fuel and generate lot of biomass. This would help in maintaining an ecological balance and also help in mitigating the climate change. 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: Devihal-3 micro-watershed (Nilogal sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) is located in between 1507’ – 1509’ North latitudes and 75036’ – 75038’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 435 ha, bounded by Chabbi village on north, Nadigatti village on the west, Majjur and Devihal villages on the east with an 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 Devihal-3 micro-watershed (Nilogal subwatershed, Shirahatti taluk and Gadag district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 51.8 to 48.2 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 48.2 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 69.7 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 90.0 per cent.  Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is the source of energy for cooking among 60.0 per cent.  About 50.0 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Farm households (90.0 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 90.0 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 50.0 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 1.8 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 50.0 per cent of households. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.6 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land of 83.3 % and irrigated land 16.1% of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 20.4 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 74.3 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 14145 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 141683 per household, about 60 per cent of sample farmers having plough and bullock cart.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 26080 per household; about 83.3 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 878.7 grams (1898.5 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 50.0 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 40187 per household. About 80.0 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.1306. 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 onsite cost of different soil nutrients lost due to soil erosion is around Rs. 1084 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 4458572 per year for the total area of 435.54 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 12856/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in onion (Rs. 21418) followed by sorghum (Rs. 12501), groundnut (Rs. 10847), sunflower (Rs. 9116), maize (Rs. 8305) and green gram (Rs. 4950).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs 1496/ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs 2379) followed by groundnut (Rs 1337) and sorghum (Rs 771).  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 per hectare value of water used and value of water was maximum in sunflower (Rs.32384), followed by green gram (Rs 32286), sorghum (Rs.27823), maize (Rs.23085), groundnut (Rs.16454), and onion (Rs.15504). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is groundnut (25.5 %) followed by maize (21.0 %), onion (16.1), sunflower (10.9 %), sorghum (10.7 %) and green gram (7.9 %).  In Devihal 3 Microwatershed, major soil is soil of Devihal (DVH) series is having very shallow soil depth cover around 6.32 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing onion. Kaggalipura (KGP) soil is also having very shallow soil depth cover (3.92 %) of area; the crops are sunflower. Chikkamegheri (CKM) soil series having moderately deep soil depth cover around 17.23 per cent of areas, crops are groundnut (28 %), maize (28 %), green gram (22 %) and sorghum (22 %). Lakkipura (LKR) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 21.65 per cent of area; crops are sorghum (66 %) and sunflower (34 %), Ranatur (RTR) soil series having very deep soil depth cover 5.79 ha of area; crop are groundnut (47 %) and maize (53 %) and Thammadahalli soils are moderately shallow soil depth cover 26.81 per cent of area; crops are groundnut.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for sunflower ranges between Rs. 35405 /ha in KGP soil (with BCR of 1.45) and Rs. 23330/ha in LKR soil (with BCR of 11.18).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 23720/ha in RTR soil (with BCR of 1.35) and Rs. 22644/ha in TDH soil (with BCR of 1.74).  In sorghum the cost of cultivation range between is Rs. 13952/ha in LKR soil (with BCR of 2.54) and Rs. 10338/ha in CKM soil (with BCR of 1.19).  In maize the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs. 25385/ha in RTR soil (with BCR of 1.52) and Rs. 21308/ha in CKM soil (with BCR of 1.10).  In onion the cost of cultivation in DVH soil is Rs. 14182/ha (with BCR of 3.22) and green gram the cost cultivation in CKM soil is Rs.18425/ha (with BCR of 1.30).  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. 4  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 groundnut (63.9 to 68.4 %), maize (79 to 82.1 %), sorghum (86.1 to 48.1 %), sunflower (51 to 30 %), onion (76.6 %) and green gram (45.3 %).