LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KADENHALLI (4D3D8G1a) MICROWATERSHED Chikkanayakanahalli Taluk, Tumkur District, Karnataka ; Not Available

Abstract

Not Available ; The land resource inventory of Kadenhalli Microwatershed was conducted using village cadastral maps and IRS satellite imagery on 1:7920 scale. The false color 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, behavior and use potentials of the soils in the microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 476 ha in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk of Tumkur district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone with an average annual rainfall of 700 mm, of which about 378 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 179 mm during north-east and the remaining 143 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 96 per cent is covered by soils and 4 per cent by others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 15 soil series and 31 soil phases (management units) and six land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from 2nd week of July 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 34 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  An area of about 94 per cent in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture and two per cent not suitable for agriculture.  About 15 per cent of the soils are deep (100-150 cm) to very deep (>150 cm), 24 per cent moderately deep (75-100cm) and 54 per cent moderately shallow to shallow (25- 75%) soils.  About 2 per cent of the area has clayey soils, 2 % sandy soils and 92 per cent loamy soils at the surface.  About 52 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils, 22 per cent gravelly (15-35%) and 21 per cent very gravelly to extremely gravelly (35-80%) soils.  About 83 per cent has soils that are very low (57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 8 per cent of the soils are low (10 ppm) in about 36 per cent area, low (0.6 ppm) in about 92 per cent area and deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 3 per cent area.  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 Kadenhalli Microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum 59 (1) 294 (62) Guava 25 (5) 91 (19) Fodder Sorghum 59 (12) 303 (64) Pomegranate 54 (11) 46 (10) Maize 30 (6) 262 (55) Banana 54 (11) 46 (10) Upland paddy 59 (12) 303 (64) Jackfruit 54 (11) 107 (23) Finger millet 59 (12) 320 (67) Jamun 54 (11) - Redgram 59 (1) 294 (62) Musambi 54 (11) 107 (23) Horse gram 109 (23) 269 (57) Lime 54 (11) 107 (23) Field bean 59 (1) 294 (62) Cashew 25 (5) 152 (32) Cowpea 59 (1) 294 (62) Custard apple 59 (12) 319 (67) Groundnut 30 (6) 257 (54) Amla 59 (12) 382 (67) Sunflower 54 (11) 107 (23) Tamarind 54 (11) - Onion 59 (1) 233 (49) Marigold 59 (1) 294 (62) Chilli 59 (1) 294 (62) Chrysanthemum 59 (1) 294 (62) Brinjal 59 (1) 294 (62) Jasmine 59 (1) 294 (62) Tomato 59 (1) 294 (62) Coconut 25 (5) 75 (16) Mango 54 (11) - Arecanut 25 (5) 75 (16) Sapota 54 (11) 107 (23) Mulberry 25 (5) 75 (16) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 6 identified LUCs 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 productivity and 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 sub-marginal lands and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges that would help in supplementing the farm income, provide fodder, fuel and generate lot of biomass. This helps in maintaining 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: Kadenahalli micro-watershed (Anekatte sub-watershed, Chikkanayakanahalli taluk, Tumkur district) is located in between 13021' – 13023' North latitudes and 76036' – 76039' East longitudes, covering an area of about 476.20 ha, bounded by Kadenahalli, Dabbegatta, Tharabenahalli, Jayachamarajapura and Bairaganahalli villages 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 Kadenahalli Microwatershed (Anekatte subwatershed, Chikkanayakanahalli taluk, Tumkur district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 53.7 to 46.3 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 92.7 per cent.  Social groups belong to general caste among the all sample households.  Liquefied petroleum gas is the source of energy for a cooking among 95.2 per cent.  About 61.9 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  About 10.0 per cent of farm households are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grain through public distribution system is around 70.0 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities having among all the sample households.  Institutional participation is only 24.4 per cent of sample households.  Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevalent among 7.3 per cent of farm households.  Women participation in decisions making for agriculture production among all sample households. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 0.4 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belonging to marginal farmers. The dry land of 81.4 per cent and irrigated land 18.6 % of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 52.8 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 19.4 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs.10282 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs.78671 per household, about 70.0 per cent of sample farmers having plough and sprayer  The average value of livestock is around Rs.19550 per household; about 86.0 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 605 grams (1504 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 90.0 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.92308 per household. About 40 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs.801. 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. 591 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 264732 per year for the total area of 476.20 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 18704/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in areca nut (Rs. 92098), coconut (Rs. 25904), ragi (Rs. 17996), red gram (Rs. 9462), black gram (Rs. 6711), green gram (Rs. 3540) and sorghum is negative return.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 4254/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in sorghum (Rs. 10725) Followed by ragi (Rs. 3075), greengram (Rs. 1790) and horse gram (Rs. 1425).  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 481866), black gram (Rs. 272925), sorghum (Rs.167301), red gram (Rs. 90506) horse gram (Rs.65792), green gram (Rs.54717), ragi (Rs. 33117) and areca nut (Rs. 6128). Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is coconut (28.0 %) followed by ragi (27.2 %), greengram (18.1 %), sorghum (9.1 %), areca nut (8.0 %), horse gram (7.7 %) and black gram (1.9 %).  In Kadenahalli micro-watershed, major soil is of Bidanagere (BDG) series is having moderately deep soil depth cover around 1.9 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing green gram. Bhimanakunte (BMK) is also having moderately deep soil depth cover 2.0 % of area, the crops are black gram (56.2 %) and ragi (43.8%). Balapur (BPR) soil series having deep soil depth cover around 3.9 % of areas, crops are greengram (50.0 %) and ragi (50.0 %). Bedwatti (BWT) soil series having moderately deep soil depth cover around 12.9 % of area, main crop is sorghum. Dambarahalli (CSR) soil series are having shallow soil depth cover around 3.6 % of area, respectively. The major crops grown are areca nut (84.9%) and coconut (15.1 %). Gollarahatti (GHT) soil series are having moderately deep soil depth covers around 1.0 % of area; the major crop grown is horsegram (50.0 %) and redgram. Hooradhahalli (HDH) soil series having moderately deep soil depth cover 6.8 % of areas respectively; crops are cotton (50.0 %) and ragi (50.0 %). Ranatur (RTR) soil series having very deep soil depth cover 6.1% of areas; main crops are coconut and Thammadahalli (TDH) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover 19.3 % of areas main crop is coconut.  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for coconut ranges between Rs.160451/ha in TDH soil (with BCR of 1.17) and Rs.27147/ha in HDH soil (with BCR of 2.61).  In green gram the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 32058/ha in BDG soil (with BCR of 1.03) and Rs.24399/ha in BPR (with BCR of 1.53).  In ragi the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 58521/ha in BMK soil and Rs.15002/ha in BPR soil (with BCR of 2.91).  In red gram the cost of cultivation in GHT soil is Rs.41600/ha (with BCR of 1.20).  In black gram the cost of cultivation in BMK soil is Rs. 49275/ha (with BCR of 1.14) and sorghum the cost of cultivation in BWT soil is Rs.36792/ha (with BCR of 1.03).  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 4 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 areca nut (22.8 %), coconut (43.5 to 52.6 %), ragi (42.2 to 60.9 %), redgram (2.7 %), horse gram (27.0 %) and greengram (13.2 to 30.1 %). ; Watershed Development Department, Government of Karnataka (World Bank Funded) Sujala –III Project