LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KANEKAL-3 (4D5B1P1c) MICROWATERSHED Balichakra Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Kanekal-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 microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 547 ha in Kanekal-3 microwatershed in Yadgir taluk of Yadgir 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 about 99 per cent is covered by soils, 1 per cent by rock outcrops and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 13 soil series and 18 soil phases (management units) and 7 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 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 250 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.  About 99 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 1 per cent is not suitable for agriculture but well suited for forestry, pasture, agro-forestry, silvi-pasture, recreation, mining, installation of wind mills and as habitat for wildlife.  About 150 cm) soils.  About 72 per cent of the area has clayey soils, 18 per cent loamy soils and 9 per cent sandy soils at the surface.  An area of about 84 per cent has non-gravelly and 15 per cent are gravelly.  About 6 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity, 15 per cent medium (100-150 mm/m) and about 78 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) to very low (<50 mm/m).  Entire area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 91 per cent has soils that are moderately eroded (e2) and 8 per cent severely eroded (e3).  An area of about 1 per cent is slightly acid (pH 6.0-6.5), 56 per cent has neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 26 per cent has slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) and about 16 per cent has soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm- 1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 31 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 67 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of 21 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha), 63 per cent medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 15 per cent high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 5 per cent low (<145 kg/ha), 92 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 2 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 69 per cent area and medium (10-20 ppm) in 30 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 52 per cent, 38 per cent medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) and high (>1.0 ppm) in about 9 per cent area of the microwatershed.  About 11 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 88 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 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 Kanekal-3 microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum 97 (18) 259 (47) Sapota 35 (6) 185 (34) Maize 97 (18) 228 (42) Guava 35 (6) 185 (34) Red gram - 251(46) Pomegranate 35 (6) 216 (39) Bajra - 251(46) Jackfruit 31 (6) 168 (31) Ground nut 35 (6) 307 (56) Jamun 31 (6) 95 (17) Sunflower - 234 (43) Musambi 35 (6) 216 (39) Cotton 31 (6) 325 (59) Lime 35 (6) 216 (39) Bengalgram 31 (6) 325 (59) Cashew 35 (6) 121 (22) Chilli - 373 (68) Custard apple 132 (24) 224 (41) Tomato 97 (18) 245 (45) Amla 132 (24) 224 (41) Drumstick 35 (6) 216 (39) Tamarind 35 (6) 95 (17) Mulberry 35 (6) 168 (31) Marigold - 373 (68) Mango 35 (6) 47 (9) Chrysanthemum - 373 (68) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the seven identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, 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, field bunds and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges, that are edible, ecological and produce lot of biomass that helps to restore the ecological balance in the micro watershed. 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: The Kanikal 3 micro-watershed in Yadgir taluk and district is located in between 16035’ – 16036’ North latitudes and 770 18’ – 77020’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 547.22 ha, bounded by Gudalagunta, Samabara, Kanikal and Balacheda villages. Agro Ecological Sub Region (AESR) 6.2: Central and Western Maharashtra Plateau and North Karnataka Plateau and North Western Telangana Plateau, hot moist semi-arid ESR with shallow and medium loamy to clayey black soil (medium and deep clayey Black soil as inclusion), medium to high AWC and 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 for each watershed. Results: The socio-economic outputs for the Kanikal 3 micro-watershed in Yadgir taluk and district are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 55.6 to 44.4 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 55.7 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 39.8 per cent.  Social groups belong to SC/ST is around 13.0 per cent.  Wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 100 per cent.  About 39.1per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (26.1 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employments.  Dependence on ration cards through public distribution system is around 100 per cent.  Swatch bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 17.4 per cent.  Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevalent among 2.3 per cent of farm households.  Women participation is decisions making are around 39.2 per cent of were found. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 12.6 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to large farmers. The dry land account for 91.8 % and irrigated land 5.8 % of total cultivated land of sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 4.4 per cent and Agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is predominant subsidiary occupation for 91.3 per cent.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.31009 per household. Mobile and television are mass popular mass communication media.  The average farm assets a value is around Rs.72963 per household, about 36.1 per cent of sample farmers are owing plough.  The average livestock value is around Rs.20721 per livestock; about 77.8 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 891.9 grams (2030 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 60.9 per cent of sample farmers are consuming more than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs 40315 per household. About 8.7 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly expenditure is around Rs 2333.9 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 1768.9 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs.956979 per year for the total area of 547.2 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around (Rs 9011/ ha/year). Per hectare food production services is maximum in onion (Rs. 8287) followed by sorghum (Rs. 7408), redgram (Rs.6098), cotton (Rs. 5411), maize (Rs. 2465), green gram (Rs. 2258) and groundnut (Rs.1307).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around (Rs 2961/ ha/year). Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 4482) followed by sorghum (Rs. 2964), groundnut (Rs.2477) and paddy (Rs.1919).  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 green gram (Rs.70127) followed by sorghum (Rs.56464), red gram (Rs.52576), cotton (Rs.42847), maize (Rs.32384) groundnut (Rs.29424), and onion (Rs.10078). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is red gram (50.6%) followed by groundnut (15.5 %), cotton (7.9 %), maize (6.5 %), paddy (9.3 %), green gram (4.6 %), onion (1.8 %) and sorghum (3.7%).  In Kanikal 3 micro watershed, major soil are soil of alluvial landscape of Badiyala (BDL) series are having shallow soil deep cover around 13.2 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing cotton (15.4%), maize (46.2 %), groundnut (23.1%) and red gram (15.4 %). Soil of granite and granite gneiss landscape of Sambara (SBR) series are having moderately shallow soil deep cover around 12.5 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram (40.7 %), cotton (7.4 %), groundnut (29.6 %), paddy (14.8 %) and green gram (7.4 %). Baddeppalli (BDP) series are having moderately soil deep cover around 0.6 % of area. Yalleri (YLR) series are having moderately shallow soil deep cover around 8.9% of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing. Cotton (10.9 %), groundnut (14.5 %), paddy (7.2 %) and red gram (60.2 %), Pogalapur (PGP) series are having moderately deep soil deep cover around 17.7 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing paddy (25.9%) and red gram (22.2 %), groundnut (29.6 %). Yadgir (YDR) series are having Deep soil deep cover around 3.9 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing maize (28.6%) paddy (21.4%) and red gram (50.0 %). Bhimanahalli (BMN) series are having very deep soil deep cover around 5.7 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram (70.0%) and sorghum (30.0 %) on Belagundi (BGD) series are having Deep soil deep cover around 0.3 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing cotton (42.9), paddy (28.6%) and red gram (28.6%). Balichakra (BCL) series are having moderately deep soil deep cover around 4.4 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing red gram, Bomraldoddi (BMD) series are having Very deep soil deep cover around 6.3 of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing green gram. Gundedagi (GDG) series are having moderately soil deep cover around 8.5 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing green gram. Vanakanahalli (VNK) series are having shallow soil deep cover around 3.9 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing groundnut (25.0 %) and redgram (75.0 %). Duppali (DPL) series are having moderately shallow soil deep cover around 14.1 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing groundnut (4.8%), onion (4.8 %), paddy (4.8%) and red gram (85.7%).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for groundnut ranges between Rs.75191/ha in DPL soil (with BCR of 1.02) and Rs.25460ha in BDL soil (with BCR of 1.52).  In cotton the cost of cultivation range between Rs 52541/ha in SBR soil (with of 1.06) and Rs.24517/ha in BGD soil (with BCR of 1.34). 4  In green gram the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 46066/ha in PGP soil (with BCR of 1.07) and Rs. 22949/ha in GDG and BMD soil (with BCR of 1.0).  In maize cost of cultivation range between is Rs.53030/ha in YLR soil (with BCR of 1.14) and Rs.20504 in BDL soil (with BCR of 1.28).  In red gram cost of cultivation range between is Rs 52680/ha in DRL soil (with BCR of 1.14) and Rs. 9514/ha in DPL soil (with BCR of 1.3).  In paddy cost of cultivation in DPL soil is Rs.53387/ha (with BCR of 1.6) and PGP soil in Rs.30141/ha (with BCR of 1.29) and onion cultivation in DPL soil is Rs 62108/ha (with BCR of 1.13).  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. Fertilizer applications are 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 maize (34.8 to 72.8%), cotton (32.5to 66.3 %), red gram (2.4 to 79.8 %), groundnut (0 to 7.4 %), paddy (12 to 67.8%) and green gram (0 to 6.7 %)