LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KALAGATAHUNDI-1 (4B3E2E2e) MICRO WATERSHED Gundlupet Taluk, Chamarajanagara District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Kalagatahundi-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 the 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 and use potentials of the soils in the microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 306 ha in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone with an average annual rainfall of 734 mm of which about 254 mm is received during south–west monsoon, 268 mm during north-east and the remaining 212 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 84 per cent is covered by soils, sixteen per cent by forests and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 7 soil series and 15 soil phases (management units) and 6 land management units.  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 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  Entire area of the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 49 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm) to very deep (>150 cm) and 35 per cent are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm).  About 40 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface, 38 per cent loamy soils and 6 per cent area has sandy soils.  About 59 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils and 25 per cent gravelly (15-35 % gravel) soils.  About 47 per cent has soils that are very low (<50 mm/m) to low (51-100 mm/m) in available water capacity and an area of 37 per cent has very high (>200 mm/m) available water capacity.  About 67 per cent of the area has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and 17 per cent is under gently sloping (3-5%) lands.  An area of about 56 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1), 23 per cent moderately eroded (e2) and 5 per cent soils are severely eroded (e3).  An area of about 17 per cent has soils that are slightly acidic (pH 6.0-6.5); 12 % are moderately acid (pH 5.5-6.0), 43 per cent area has neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and maximum area of about 12 per cent has soils that are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3 to 7.8) to moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 4 per cent of the soils are low (<0.5 %), 41 per cent soils are medium (0.5- 0.75%) and 38 per cent of the soils are high (>0.75 %) in organic carbon.  About 42 per cent of the soils are low (<23 kg/ha) and 41 per cent of the soils are medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 2 per cent of the soils are low (<145 kg/ha), medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 54 per cent area and 28 per cent of the soils are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 84 per cent area.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 66 per cent area and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in about 18 per cent area.  Available iron is sufficient in 84 per cent area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 82 per cent area and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 2 per cent area.  The land suitability for 27 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, 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 86 (28) 124 (40) Guava 26(8) 36(12) Maize 26 (8) 98 (32) Banana 26(8) 86(28) Red gram 26 (8) 139(46) Jackfruit 26(8) - Horse gram 26(8) 220(72) Jamun 112(37) - Field bean 26(8) 184(60) Musambi 112(37) - Groundnut - 160(52) Lime 112(37) - Sunflower - 112(73) Cashew 26(8) 36(12) Cotton 86(28) 98(32) Custard apple 112(37) 134(44) Onion 26(8) 184(60) Amla 112(37) 134(44) Potato 26(8) 98(32) Tamarind 112(37) - Beans 26(8) 184(60) Marigold 26(8) 230(72) Beetroot 26(8) 98(32) Chrysanthemum 26(8) 184(60) Mango 26(8) - Turmeric 26(8) 98(32) Sapota 26(8) 36(12) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 6 identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, fibre and horticulture crops.  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. 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: Kalagatahundi 1 micro-watershed (Gopalapur sub-watershed, Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar district) is located in between 11046’ – 11048’ North latitudes and 76032’ – 76035’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 306 ha, bounded by Channamallipur, Hongahalli, Maddur and Berambadi 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 eco system services were quantified. Results: The socio-economic outputs for the Kalagatahundi 1 micro-watershed (Gopalapur sub-watershed, Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 54.1 to 45.9 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 54 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 99.9 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 66.7 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 44.5 per cent.  About 66.7 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  All farm households are having MGNREGA card for rural employments.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system among the all sample households.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 88.9 per cent of sample households. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 0.8 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to marginal and small farmers. The dry land of 92.4 % and irrigated land 7.6 % of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation among 2.3 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 48.6 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 15347 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 104700 per household, about 66.7 per cent of sample farmers owned plough.  The average livestock value is around Rs. 27500 per household; about 54.5 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 905.7 grams (1773.5 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 66.7 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.32952 per household. About 77.8 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.1389. 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. 938 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 240966 per year for the total area of 305.5 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 35915/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in onion (Rs. 165481) followed by cotton (Rs. 40435), ragi (Rs. 9897), sorghum (Rs. 20602), bengal gram (Rs.7404), groundnut (Rs. 3871) and sunflower is negative return.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 698/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in ragi (Rs. 3116) followed by groundnut (Rs. 1475) and sorghum (Rs. 984).  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 bengal gram (Rs. 64982) followed by cotton (Rs. 56330), sorghum (Rs. 49968), sunflower (Rs. 37413), ragi (Rs. 10462), onion (Rs. 20359) and groundnut (Rs. 18461). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is ragi (24.5 %) followed by groundnut (19.2 %) sorghum (13.0 %), cotton (12.2 %), bengalgram (12.1 %), sunflower (11.5 %) and onion (7.6 %). 3  In Kalagatahundi 1 micro-watershed, major soil is soil of Honnegaudanahalli (HGH) series is having very deep soil depth cover around 8.4 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing bengal gram (51.2 %), Soil of Beemanabeedu (BMB) are also having shallow soil depth cover 28.3 % of area, the crops are cotton (26.8 %), onion (16.7 %), ragi (2.5 %), sorghum (28.6 %) and sunflower (25.3 %). Hullipura (HPR) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 7.8 % of areas, crops are groundnut, Kannigala (KNG) soil series having moderately deep soil depth cover around 11.9 % of area, main cultivated crop are ragi.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for ragi range between Rs. 23258/ha in BMB soil (with BCR of 1.23) and Rs.18902/ha in KNG soil (with BCR of 1.95).  In groundnut the cost cultivation in HPR soil is Rs.29309/ha (with BCR of 1.18).  In sunflower the cost cultivation in BMB soil is Rs.29415/ha (with BCR of 0.98).  In onion the cost cultivation in BMB soil is Rs.59065/ha (with BCR of 3.80).  In bengal gram the cost cultivation in HGH soil is Rs.39644/ha (with BCR of 1.19) and sorghum the cost cultivation in BMB soil is Rs. 16284/ha (with BCR of 2.33).  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 on 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 ragi (70 to 75.7 %), onion (69.3 %), cotton (18.2 %), sunflower (31.7 %), sorghum (41.6 %), groundnut (61.2 %) and bengal gram (35.7%)