LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BALBATTI-3 (4D5A3O1c) MICROWATERSHED Jewargi Taluk, Gulbarga District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Balbatti-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 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 437 ha in Balbatti-3 microwatershed in Jewargi taluk of Gulbarga district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought- prone with an average annual rainfall of 751 mm, of which about 538 mm is received during south–west monsoon, 138 mm during north-east and the remaining 75 mm during the rest of the year. 99 per cent area is covered by soils and 1 per cent is by Habitation and waterbody. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 5 soil series and 10 soil phases (management units) and 3 Land Use Classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 1st 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.  Entire area is suitable for agriculture.  About 83 per cent of the soils are deep to very deep (100->150 cm) and 16 per cent are very shallow to shallow (<25-50 cm) soils.  Entire area has clayey soils at the surface.  About 99 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils.  About 83 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity and about 16 per cent low (50-100 mm/m) and very low (<50 mm/m).  About 99 per cent of the area has nearly level (0-1%) to very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 73 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 25 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 0.05 per cent severely eroded (e3).  An area of about 99 per cent has soils that strongly alkaline soils (pH 7.3-9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 19 ha (4%) area is low (<0.5%) in organic carbon, medium (0.5-0.75%) in about maximum area of 276 ha (63%) and high (>0.75%) in 137 ha (31%) in organic carbon.  Major area of 73 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) and 26 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 99 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 1 per cent area, medium (10-20 ppm) in 34 per cent and 64 per cent high (>20 ppm).  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 30 per cent area and 69 per cent medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) .  About 77 per cent area is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in iron and 22 per cent deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  About 56 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc and 43 per cent sufficient (>0.6 ppm).  The land suitability for 19 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 363 (83) - Guava - 363 (83) Maize - - Jackfruit - - Red gram - - Jamun - 363 (83) Soybean 363 (83) - Musambi 363 (83) - Bengalgram 363 (83) 68 (16) Lime 363 (83) - Sunflower 363 (83) - Cashew - - Cotton 363 (83) - Custard apple 363 (83) - Sugarcane - - Amla 363 (83) - Mango - - Tamarind - 363 (83) Sapota - 363 (83) 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, fodder, fibre and other horticulture crops that helps in maintaining the ecological balance in 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, 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 inturn would help in maintaining the ecological balance and contributes to 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: Balbatti-3 micro-watershed (Dummadri sub-watershed, Jewargi taluk, Gulbarga district) is located in between 16046’ – 16048’ North latitudes and 76034’ – 76036’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 437.16 ha, bounded by Balbatti, Vadagera, Sumbada, Shivapura and Hangalga (K) villages with a 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 Balbatti 3 Microwatershed (Dummadri subwatershed, Jewargi taluk, Gulbarga district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 61.9 to 38.1 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 66.7 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 76.2 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward castes (OBC) of all sample farmers.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 90 per cent.  About 50 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 50 per cent of the sample farm households are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system of all sample households.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 30 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making for agriculture production among all of sample households. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.4 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.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 59.5 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 31 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 38206 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets value is around Rs. 8270 per household, about 20 per cent of sample farmers having plough and sprayer (50 %).  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 7500 per household; about 20.0 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 892.3 grams (2082.5 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 30 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 32636 per household. About 80.0 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs. 1958 per household. 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.680 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs.293762 per year for the total area of 437.16 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grains production is around Rs. 15325/ ha/year. Per hectare food grains production services is maximum in cotton (Rs. 21581) followed by red gram (Rs. 19148), and paddy (Rs. 5245).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 9959/ ha/year of paddy.  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. 61447) followed by cotton (Rs. 51622) and paddy (Rs. 33325). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is red gram (56.6 %) followed by cotton (39.7 %) and paddy (3.7 %).  In Balbatti 3 micro-watershed, major soils are soil of Balbatti (BBT) series is having shallow soil depth cover around 48.95 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing cotton (16.8 %) and redgram (83.2 %), Novinihala (NHA) soil series having shallow soil depth cover around 54.0 % of area, the crops are cotton (60.4 %) and red gram (39.6 %). Yedrami (YDM) soil series having deep soil depth cover around 34.18 % of areas, crops are cotton.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for cotton ranges between Rs.35129 /ha in YDM soil (with BCR of 1.98) and Rs. 20615/ha in BBT soil (with BCR of 1.92).  In red gram the cost of cultivation range between Rs 27848/ha in NHA soil (with BCR of 2.08) and Rs.26102/ha in BBT soil (with BCR of 1.96).  In paddy the cost of cultivation is Rs. 38578/ha in YDM soil (with BCR of 1.39).  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 cotton (42.2 to 18.1 %), red gram (10.1 %) and paddy (66.0 %).