LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SHETHALLI-1 (4D5B1Q2b) MICROWATERSHED Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Shethalli-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, behaviour and use potentials of the soils in the microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 515 ha in Shethalli-1 microwatershed in Yadgir taluk and 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 67 per cent is covered by soils, 31 per cent by mining/industrial and 2 per cent by habitation and water bodies. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 3 soil series and 3 soil phases (management units) and 1 land Management units.  The length of crop growing period is 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 320 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing 26 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  Entire land area of the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 10 per cent are deep (100-150 cm) and about 57 per cent soils are very deep (>150 cm) soils.  About 66 per cent of the area has clayey soils and <1 per cent loamy soils at the surface.  Entire area of the microwatershed has non-gravelly soils.  Entire area of the microwatershed has soils that are very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  Entire area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  Entire area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately eroded (e2).  An area of about 32 per cent soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 31 per cent soils that are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 – 9.0) and about 5 per cent are 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 5 per cent is low (<0.5%), 36 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 25 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of 59 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) and 8 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 38 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 29 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 59 per cent area, medium (10- 20 ppm) in 2 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in about 5 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 12 per cent, 25 per cent medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) and high (>1.0 ppm) in about 31 per cent area of the microwatershed.  About 43 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 24 per cent sufficient (>4.5 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Entire area of the microwatershed is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc.  The land suitability for 26 major agricultural and horticultural 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, market price and finally the demand and supply position. Land suitability for various crops in the Shethalli-1 microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum - 345 (67) Sapota - - Maize - - Guava - - Red gram - 345 (67) Pomegranate - 345 (67) Bajra - 345 (67) Jackfruit - - Ground nut - - Jamun - 345 (67) Sunflower - 345 (67) Musambi - 345 (67) Cotton - 345 (67) Lime - 345 (67) Bengalgram - 345 (67) Cashew - - Chilli - 345 (67) Custard apple - 345 (67) Tomato - - Amla - 345 (67) Drumstick - 345 (67) Tamarind - 345 (67) Mulberry - - Marigold - 345 (67) Mango - 345 (67) Chrysanthemum - 345 (67) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the one 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 that helps in maintaining the ecological balance in the microwatershed.  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 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. This 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 Shethalli-1 is located at North latitude 160 32’ 53.654” and 160 31' 15.619" and East longitude 770 19’ 40.855'' and 770 17’ 42.879” covering an area of about 515.22 ha coming unde Shettilli, Kadechoora and Daddala villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Shethalli-1 micro watersheds of Kadechur subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 37 farmers were sampled in Shethalli-1 micro-watershed among households surveyed 9 (24.32%) were marginal, 12 (32.43%) were small and 11 (29.73 %) were semi medium farmers. 5 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 107 (59.12%) men and 74 (40.88 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4, marginal farmers were 5.2, small farmers were 5.2 and semi medium farmers were 4.7.  Majority of the respondents (39.23%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 25.41 per cent illiterates, 72.36 per cent pre university education and 8.84 per cent attained graduation.  About, 91.89 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 8.11 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 56.35 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 86.49 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 5.41 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 75.68 per cent possess TV, 18.92 per cent possess mixer grinder, 94.59 per cent possess mobile phones and 29.73 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 27.03 per cent of the households possess plough, 10.81 per cent possess tractor, 13.51 per cent possess bullock cart and 35.14 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 27.03 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 12.35, women available in the micro watershed was 1.22, hired labour (men) available was 1.41 and hired labour (women) available was 6.43.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 100.00 per cent (48.07 ha) of the area is under dry condition. 2  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Maize, Cotton, Jowar and cropping intensity was recorded as 99.98 per cent.  Out of the sample households 100.00 percent possessed bank account and 51.35 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 127.03 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 26.09 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 34.78 per cent from co-operative/Grameena bank.  Majority of the respondents (100.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 100.00 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Maize, Cotton and Jowar was Rs.54846.06, 24673.26, 34772.97 and 22695.97 with benefit cost ratio of 1:0.95, 1: 1.40, 1: 1.40 and 1: 2.10 respectively.  Further, 32.43 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 132751.89 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 59927.03 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 1 horticulture trees and 18 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  About 18.92 per cent of the households shown interest to cultivate horticultural crops.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 297.30 for land development and Rs. 17567.57 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 2.70 per cent depends on own funds.  Regarding marketing channels, 37.84 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 48.65 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 51.35 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (51.35%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 72.97 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 72.97 per cent of the households and 27.03 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 100.00 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 48.65 per cent of the households possess toilet facility. 3  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100.00 per cent of the households possessed BPL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (62.16%), pulses (64.86%) and oilseeds (59.46%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (54.05%) wild animal menace on farm field (37.84%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (62.16%), inadequacy of irrigation water (67.57%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (83.78%), high rate of interest on credit (83.78%), low price for the agricultural commodities (81.08%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (78.38%), inadequate extension services (10.81%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (64.86%).