LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT NANDIHALLI (4D3D7B3b) MICROWATERSHED Gubbi Taluk, Tumkur District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Nandihalli 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 boundries. 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 354 ha in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought prone with an average annual rainfall of 813 mm, of which about 466 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 196 mm during north-east and the remaining 151 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 57per cent is covered by soils. 41 per cent is covered by gullied lands and 2 per cent by others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 8 soil series and 13 soil phases (management units) and 6 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from 3rd week of June to third 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 34 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 57 percent area is suitable for agriculture and 41 percent is not suitable for agriculture  About 48 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm) to very deep (>150 cm) and 8 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow.  About 10 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface and 47 per cent loamy soils.  About 48 per cent of the soils are non gravelly, 7 per cent of the soils are gravelly (<15-35%) and one per cent of area has very gravelly soils (35-60%).  An area of about 22 per cent are low (51-100 mm/m), 25 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and an area of 10 per cent has very high (>200 mm/m) available water capacity.  About 52 per cent of the area has nearly level (0-1%) to very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and about 4 per cent of the area is gently sloping (3-5%).  An area of about 36 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 19 per cent moderately eroded (e2). Very small area of about 1 per cent is severely eroded and 41 per cent is covered by gullied lands.  Maximum area of about 70 per cent has soils that are slightly acidic to strongly acid (pH 5.0-6.5), 27 per cent area is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 53 per cent of the soils are low (<0.5%), 41 per cent area of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) and 3 per cent of the area are high in organic carbon.  About 37 per cent of the area is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus and 61 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha).  About 48 per cent of the soils are low (<145 kg/ha), medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 42 per cent area and 8 per cent of the soils are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10 -20 ppm) in an area of about 76 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in an area of 22 per cent.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in maximum area about 84 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 14 per cent area.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 43 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 54 per cent of soils of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 34 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 110 (31) 41(12) Guava 90(26) 32(9) Fodder Sorghum 110 (31) 41(12) Pomegranate 110 (31) 12(3) Maize 56(16) 95(27) Banana 110 (31) 12(3) Upland paddy 110 (31) 41(12) Jackfruit 110 (31) 12(3) Finger millet 110 (31) 41(12) Jamun 110 (31) 89(25) Red gram 110 (31) 41(12) Musambi 110 (31) 12(3) Horse gram 121(34) 79 (22) Lime 110 (31) 12(3) Field bean 110 (31) 41(12) Cashew 90(26) 32(9) Cowpea 110 (31) 41(12) Custard apple 110 (31) 89(25) Groundnut 17(5) 163 (26) Amla 110 (31) 89(25) Sunflower 110 (31) 12(3) Tamarind 110 (31) - Onion 76 (21) 75(21) Marigold 110 (31) 89(25) Chilli 110 (31) 41(12) Chrysanthemum 110 (31) 89(25) Brinjal 110 (31) 41(12) Jasmine 110 (31) 89(25) Tomato 110 (31) 41(12) Coconut 90(26) 32(9) Mango 110(31) - Arecanut 90(26) 32(9) Sapota 110 (31) 12(3) Mulbery 15(5) 107(30) 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, 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. This would help in maintaining an ecological balance and also 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: Nandihalli micro-watershed (Pillahalli sub-watershed, Gubbi taluk, Tumkur district) is located in between 13028’ – 13029’ North latitudes and 76053’ – 76055’ East longitudes, covering an area of about 353.56 ha, bounded by Malamachanakunte and Nallur villages 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 Nandihalli micro-watershed (Pillahalli subwatershed, Gubbi taluk, Tumkur district) presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 57.1 to 42.9 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 59.2 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 71.5 per cent.  Social groups belong to other backward caste OBC is around 50.0 per cent.  Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is the source of energy for a cooking among 90.0 per cent.  About 80.0 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (70.0 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 90.0 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 70 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 6.12 per cent of sample households.  Women participation in decisions making are around 30 per cent of households were found. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.98 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land of 54.7 % and irrigated land 45.3 % of total cultivated land among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 82.1 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 7.8 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 10528 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 126927 per household, about 40 per cent of sample farmers having plough and sprayer.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 23229 per household; about 40 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 659.9 grams (1380.4 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Among all sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs. 113300 per household. About 60.0 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs. 1233. 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. 634 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 125033 per year for the total area of 348 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs 307802/ ha/year. Per hectare food production services is maximum in mango (Rs 378917) followed by areca nut (Rs. 193859), coconut (Rs. 65339), sorghum (Rs. 14607), horse gram (Rs. 7705), ragi (Rs. 7297), greengram (Rs. 4482).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 1520/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in greengram (Rs. 2100) followed by horse gram (Rs 1630), ragi (Rs. 1610) and sorghum (Rs. 741).  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 coconut (Rs. 3 291170), sorghum (Rs. 48936), green gram (Rs. 34116), horse gram (Rs. 21794), ragi (Rs. 12918) and arecanut (Rs. 10284). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is coconut (29.0 %) followed by ragi (24.0 %), arecanut (16.7 %), sorghum (5.4 %), mango (3.2 %) and greengram (7.2 %) and horse gram (19.0 %).  In Nandihalli micro-watershed, major soil is Hallikere (HLK) soil series are having very deep soil depth cover around 11.09 per cent of areas. On present farmers growing crops are arecanut (15.4 %), coconut (26.4 %), horse gram (16.2 %) and, ragi (38.5 %). Kadagathur (KDT) and Niduvalalu (NDL) soils are also very deep soil depth covers around 9.71 per cent and 13.51 per cent of areas, respectively; the crops are arecanut (8.1 %), coconut (39.8 %), green gram (6.6 %), horse gram (9.9), ragi (22.3 %) and sorghum (13.3 %).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for arecanut ranges between Rs. 170736/ha in KDT soil (with BCR of 2.27) and Rs. 44110/ha in HLK soil (with BCR of 4.90).  In coconut the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs. 104051/ha in NGP soil (with BCR of 1.71) and Rs. 53371/ha in HLK soil (with BCR of 1.90).  In horse gram the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 21154/ha in HLK soil (with BCR of 1.23) and Rs. 17249/ha in KDT soil (with BCR of 1.79).  In ragi the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 26647/ha in KDT soil (with BCR of 1.56) and Rs. 15725/ha in HLK soil (with BCR of 1.02).  In sorghum the cost of cultivation is Rs. 22319/ha in KDT soil (with BCR of 1.69) and mango the cost of cultivation is Rs. 32750/ha in NDL soil (with BCR of 12.57).  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. 4  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 arecanut (86.1 to 76.5 %), ragi (75.7 to 60.2 %), coconut (53.5 to 18.7 %), horse gram (39.3 to 15.7 %), green gram (42.2 %), mango (47.3 %) and sorghum (42.8 %)