LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT LAKSHMAPURA-1 (4D4A1U1b) MICROWATERSHED Koppal Taluk & District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Laksmanpura-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 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, behavior and use potentials of the soils in the Microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 561 ha in Koppal taluk and district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought - prone with an average annual rainfall of 662 mm, of which about 424 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 161 mm during north-east and the remaining 77 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 89 per cent is covered by soil, <1 per cent by railway and 11 per cent by water bodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 21 soil series and 35 soil phases (management units) and 8 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is <90 days and starts from 2nd week of August to 2nd week of November.  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 31 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  Entire area is suitable for agriculture.  About 7 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 31 per cent moderately deep (75- 100 cm) and 50 per cent is deep to very deep (100->150cm) soils.  About 38 per cent of the soils are loamy (sandy loam and sandy clay loam) and 50 per cent has clayey (sandy clay and clay) soils at the surface.  About 35 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%), 48 per cent gravelly (15- 35%) and 6 per cent is very gravelly (35-60%) soils.  With respect to available water capacity 3 per cent of the area has very low (<50mm/m), 47 per cent of the area has low (51-100 mm/m), 17 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 22 per cent area is high to very high (151- >200mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 17 per cent has nearly level (0-1%) and 72 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 34 per cent is slightly eroded (e1) and 54 per cent is moderately eroded (e2).  An area of about 3 per cent is moderately acid (pH 5.5-6.0), 14 per cent is slightly acid (pH 6.0-6.5), 33 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5 -7.3), 37 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3 to 7.8) and <1 per cent is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4- 9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are <2 dsm-1 indicating that soils are non saline.  Organic carbon is low (<0.5%) in <1 per cent, medium (0.5-0.75%) 65 per cent and 23 per cent is high (>0.75%).  Available phosphorus is low (<23 kg/ha) in 14 per cent, medium (<23 kg/ha) in 47 per cent and high (>57 kg/ha) in 28 per cent area of the soils.  Available potassium is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 71 per cent and high (>337 kg/ha) in 17 per cent area of the soils.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in the entire area of the soils.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 60 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 29 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient (<4.5ppm) in 64 per cent and sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 24 per cent of the area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 88 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in <1 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire area.  The land suitability for 31 major agricultural and horticultural crops grown in the microwatershed was assessed and the areas that are highly suitable (class S1) and moderately suitable (class 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 99(18) 350(62) Sapota 128(23) 233(42) Maize 84(15) 364(65) Pomegranate 128(23) 327(58) Bajra 146(26) 347(62) Guava 128(23) 233(42) Redgram 99(18) 331(59) Jackfruit 128(23) 233(42) Bengal gram - 94(17) Jamun 42(8) 157(28) Groundnut 14(2) 343(61) Musambi 128(23) 327(58) Sunflower 99(18) 331(59) Lime 128(23) 327(58) Cotton - 418(75) Cashew 115(20) 233(42) Chilli 113(20) 336(60) Custard apple 146(26) 347(62) Tomato 113(20) 242(43) Amla 146(26) 253(45) Brinjal 113(20) 242(43) Tamarind 42(8) 157(28) Onion 84(15) 270(48) Marigold 113(20) 336(60) Bhendi 113(20) 336(60) Chrysanthemum 113(20) 336 (60) Drumstick 128(23) 272(48) Jasmine 113(20) 242(43) Mulberry 100 (18) 261(47) Crossandra 113(20) 242(43) Mango 42(8) 157(28) - - -  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 8 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 to these problematic soils like saline/alkali, highly eroded, sandy soils etc.,  Soil and water conservation and drainage line treatment plans have 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 farm income, provide fodder and fuel, and generate lot of biomass which in turn would help in maintaining the ecological balance and contribute to mitigating the climate change. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Lakshmapura-1 is located at North latitude 150 23’ 58.806” and 150 21’ 48.269” and East longitude 760 2’ 59.1'' and 760 1’ 14.906” covering an area of about 547.08 ha coming under Lakmapura, Bhanapur and Tadakal Villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Lakshmapura-1 micro watersheds of Bhanapur subwatershed, Koppala taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 total respondents, 15 (42.86 %) were marginal, 9 (25.71%)were small, 5 (14.29 %) were Semi medium and 1 (2.86 %) were medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 64 (55.65%) men and 51 (44.35 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (24.35%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 37.39 per cent illiterates, 53.92 per cent pre university education and 7.83 per cent attained graduation.  About, 88.57 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 5.71 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 27.83 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 45.71 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, 80.00 per cent possess TV, 65.71 per cent possess mobile phones and 17.14 per cent possess motor cycles.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 2.86 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.37, women available in the micro watershed was 1.00, hired labour (men) available was 6.53 and hired labour (women) available was 6.58.  Further, 100.00 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 93.97 per cent (38.25 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 6.03 per cent area is irrigated land.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Maize, Groundnut, Bengal gram and Sorghum and cropping intensity was recorded as 97.28 per cent.  Out of the sample households 85.71 percent possessed bank account and 85.71 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 85.71 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 16.67 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 6.67 per cent from co-operative/Grameena bank.  Majority of the respondents (100.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose. 2  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 85.71 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Groundnut, Bengal gram, Sorghum and 0 was Rs.37903.31, 50648.32, 27556.91 and 17388.76 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.60, 1: 2.70, 1: 3.00 and 1: 1.40 respectively.  Further, 5.71 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 71825.71 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 58968.57 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 34 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 228.57 for land development.  Source of funds raised from asset selling for land development was 2.86 per cent and soft loan for land development was and improved crop production was 2.86 per cent.  Regarding marketing channels, 20.00 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 65.71 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 85.71 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (85.71%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 80.00 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 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, 100.00 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 97.14 per cent of the household’s possessed BPL card, 2.86 per cent of the household’s possessed APL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (97.14%), pulses (94.29%) and oilseeds (11.43%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (91.43%) wild animal menace on farm field (82.86%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (57.14%), inadequacy of irrigation water (11.43%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (25.71%), high rate of interest on credit (11.43%), low price for the agricultural commodities (11.43%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (14.29%), inadequate extension services (22.86%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (48.57%), Less rainfall (42.86%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (65.71%).