LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIMAL-2 (4D5C5A2b) MICROWATERSHED Afzalpur Taluk, Gulbarga District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Dimal-2 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 microwartershed. The present study covers an area of 620 ha in Dimal-2 microwatershed in Afzalpur taluk of Kalaburgi district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought- prone with an average annual rainfall of 680 mm, of which about 482 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 119 mm during north-east and the remaining 79 mm during the rest of the year. Entire area is covered by soils. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 4 soil series and 7 soil phases (management units) and 3 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 3rd week of June to 3rd 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 250 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing 18major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  Entire area is suitable for agriculture.  About 86 per cent of the soils are deep to very deep (100- >150 cm), about 7 per cent are moderately deep (75-100 cm) and 7 per cent are shallow (25-50 cm) soils.  Entire area has clayey soils at the surface.  Entire area has non-gravelly soils in the microwatershed.  About 86 per cent has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity, 7 per cent medium (100-150 mm/m) and about 7 per cent low (50-100 mm/m).  About 92 per cent of the area has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and about 8 per cent area is gently (3-5% slope) sloping lands.  An area of about 46 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 54 per cent moderately eroded (e2).  Entire area has strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 -9.0) soils.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 78 per cent area has soils that are medium (0.5-0.75%) and 22 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of 49 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) and 51 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  Entire area has soils that are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 30 per cent area and medium (10-20 ppm) in 70 per cent area.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 20 per cent area, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 79 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 1 per cent area.  About 28 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 72 per cent area has sufficient (>4.5ppm)in iron.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  Entire area has soils that are deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc.  The land suitability for 18 major crops (agricultural and horticultural) 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, 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 45 (7) 533 (86) Sapota - - Maize - - Jackfruit - - Red gram 45 (7) 533 (86) Jamun - 533 (86) Sunflower 45 (7) 533 (86) Musambi 199 (32) 379 (61) Cotton 45 (7) 533 (86) Lime 199 (32) 379(61) Sugarcane - - Cashew - - Soybean 45 (7) 533 (86) Custard apple 529 (85) 49 (8) Guava - - Amla 244 (39) 334 (54) Mango - - Tamarind - (5336) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 3 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 and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges. This would help in supplementing the farm income, provide fodder and fuel, generate lot of biomass, this helps in maintaining ecological balance and contribute to mitigating 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: Dimal-2 Microwatershed (Hosur sub-watershed, Afzalpur taluk and Gulbarga district) is located in between 17017’ – 17019’ North latitudes and 7604’ – 7607’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 619 ha, bounded by Karajgi, Kudiganur, Chikkamanur, Agarkhed villages and Maharashtra State 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 Dimal-2 micro-watershed (Hosur subwatershed, Afzalpur taluk and Gulbarga district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 51.2 to 48.8 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 51.2 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 55.1 per cent.  Social population to other backward caste (OBC) is around 90 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking of all sample households.  Only 10.0 per cent of households having Bhima and Yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (60.0 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employments.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system of all sample households.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities is not found in households.  Women participation in local organisation for agriculture production among all the households was found. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.64 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The total land cultivated on dry land condition among the sample farmers. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation among 63.4 per cent and agriculture labour is predominant subsidiary occupation for 36.6 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 8500 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 145714 per household, about 70 per cent of sample farmers having plough.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 10000 per household; around 10 per cent of farm households are having livestock population.  The average per capita food consumption is around 772.6 grams (1614.4kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 80.0 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 53174 per household. About 70.0 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.4199. 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. 896 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 555685 per year for the total area of 619.59 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 9963/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in redgram (Rs. 26156) followed by sorghum (Rs. 9944), groundnut (Rs. 3409) and wheat (Rs. 341).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 1194/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in wheat (Rs. 1647) followed by groundnut (Rs. 1235) and sorghum (Rs. 700).  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 redgram (Rs. 65312) followed by wheat (Rs. 41323), sorghum (Rs. 37643) and groundnut (Rs. 20615). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is red gram (77.1 %) followed by sorghum (8.6 %) wheat (8.6 %) and groundnut (5.7 %). 3  In Dimal-2 micro-watershed, major soil are soil of alluvial landscape of Mannur (MAR) series is having very deep soil depth cover around 73.0 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram (78.9 %), sorghum (7.9 %), wheat (7.9%) and groundnut (5.3 %).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for groundnut in MAR soil is Rs. 26231/ha (with BCR of 1.18).  In wheat the cost of cultivation in MAR soil is Rs 24359/ha (with BCR of 1.08).  In red gram the cost of cultivation in MAR soil is Rs. 21833/ha (with BCR of 2.20) and sorghum the cost of cultivation in MAR soil is Rs. 14756/ha (with BCR of 1.72).  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 soil 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 groundnut (56.6 %), sorghum (56.0 %), wheat (32.5 %) and redgram (1.7 %).