LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PIRLAGAR-1 (4D5B1F1a) MICROWATERSHED Gurumitkal Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Pirlagar-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 642 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 499 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 129 ha by forest and about 14 ha by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 11 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.  Entire area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 9 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep to very deep (100 - >150 cm) and 69 per cent soils are very shallow to moderately shallow (<25- 75 cm).  About 27 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 44 per cent has loamy soils and 7 per cent clayey soils.  About of 33 per cent area of the microwatershed has non gravelly (<15%) soils and 45 per cent has gravelly (15-35%) soils.  About 6 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 3 per cent area low (51-100 mm/m) and 69 per cent area very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of 1 per cent has nearly level (0-1% slope) lands, 62 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and 15 per cent gently sloping (3-5% slope) lands in the microwatershed.  An area of about 29 per cent is severely (e3) eroded, 45 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded and 4 per cent area is slightly (e1) eroded.  An area of about 69 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 8 per cent are slightly acid and less than 1 per cent are slightly 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-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  An area of about 74 per cent of the microwatershed is high (>0.75%) and 4 per cent is medium (0.50-0.75%) in organic carbon content.  About 22 per cent area is low (<23kg/ha) and 56 per area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About an area of 6 per cent is low (<145 kg/ha), 71 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 1 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 2 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 75 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 42 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 36 per cent 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 26(4) 17(3) Guava - 15(2) Maize - 43(7) Sapota - 15(2) Bajra - 58(9) Pomegranate - 56(9) Groundnut - 17(3) Musambi 24(4) 32(5) Sunflower 9(1) 32(5) Lime 24(4) 32(5) Redgram - 57(9) Amla - 43(7) Bengal gram 41(6) 2(<1) Cashew - - Cotton 41(6) 2(<1) Jackfruit - - Chilli - 44(7) Jamun - 56(9) Tomato - 26(4) Custard apple 41(6) 2(<1) Brinjal 24(4) 34(5) Tamarind - 56(9) Onion 24(4) 17(3) Mulberry - - Bhendi 24(4) 34(5) Marigold - 59(9) Drumstick - 57(9) Chrysanthemum - 59(9) Mango - 7(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 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 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 sub marginal 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. The survey was conducted in Pirlagar-1 is located at North latitude 160 51’ 57.153” and 160 49’ 59.55" and East longitude 770 19’ 43.401'' and 770 17’ 21.799” covering an area of about 641.90 ha coming under Yampada, Gajarakota, Himalapura and Chinthanapalli Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Pirlagar-1 micro watersheds of Bewanahalli subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 total respondents, 32 (91.43 %) were marginal and 3 (8.57%) were small farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 86 (54.78%) men and 71 (45.22 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (43.95%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 49.68 per cent illiterates, 1.91 percent were functional literates, 45.22 per cent pre university education and 2.55 per cent attained graduation.  About, 91.43 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 37.58 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, 100.00 per cent possess TV, 97.14 per cent possess mobile phones.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.53, women available in the micro watershed was 1.67, hired labour (men) available was 7.57 and hired labour (women) available was 5.43.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 61.01 per cent (19.07 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 38.99 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 18.00 live bore wells wells among the sampled households.  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 51.43 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton and Paddy, and cropping intensity was recorded as 100.00 per cent.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton and Paddy was Rs.37615.01 , 50412.01 and 128062.01 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.90, 1: 1.90 and 1: 1.05 respectively.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 96614.29 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 47471.43 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 54 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards. 2  Regarding marketing channels, 94.29 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 5.71 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 100.00 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (100.00%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 85.71 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 100.00 per cent of the households.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 97.14 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 85.71 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 (100.00%), pulses (88.57%) and oilseeds (2.86%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (100.00%) wild animal menace on farm field (2.86%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (85.71%), inadequacy of irrigation water (11.43%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (80.00%), high rate of interest on credit (2.86%), low price for the agricultural commodities (62.86%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (17.14%), inadequate extension services (5.71%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (62.86%)