LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SANGANAHALLI (4B3D3N1c) MICROWATERSHED Gubbi Taluk, Tumkur District, Karnataka ; Not Available
Not Available ; The land resource inventory of Sanganahalli 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 513 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. Entire area is covered by soils. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below. The soils belong to 6 soil series and 12 soil phases (management units), and 4 land management units. 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. Entire area is suitable for agriculture. About 99 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm) to very deep (>150 cm). About 5 per cent of the area has clayey soils at the surface and 93 per cent loamy soils. About 94 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils and 4 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel). About 40 per cent has soils that are very low (57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus. About 13 per cent of the soils are low (337 kg/ha) in available potassium. Available sulphur content is medium (10-20 ppm) in the entire microwatershed. Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 93 per cent area and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 6 per cent area. Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire microwatershed area. Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed. Available zinc is deficient (0.6 ppm) in 77 per cent of soils in the microwatershed. The land suitability for 34 major crops grown in the microwatershed was assessed and the areas that are highly suitable (Class S1) and moderately suitable (Class 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 186 (36) 118 (23) Guava 4(1) 185 (36) Fodder Sorghum 186 (36) 118 (23) Pomegranate 186 (36) 118 (23) Maize 4(1) 182 (35) Banana 186 (36) 118 (23) Upland paddy 186 (36) 232 (45) Jackfruit 186 (36) 321 (63) Finger millet 186 (36) 114 (22) Jamun 186 (36) 118 (23) Red gram 186 (36) 118 (23) Musambi 186 (36) 118 (23) Horse gram 186 (36) 322 (63) Lime 186 (36) 118 (23) Field bean 186 (36) 118 (23) Cashew 186(36) 322 (63) Cowpea 186 (36) 118 (23) Custard apple 186(36) 322 (63) Groundnut - 207 (40) Amla 186 (36 ) 322 (63) Sunflower 186 (36) 118 (23) Tamarind 186 (36) 118 (23) Onion 186 (36) 118 (23) Marigold 186 (36) 204 (40) Chilli 186 (36) 118 (23) Chrysanthemum 186 (36) 204 (40) Brinjal 186 (36) 118 (23) Jasmine 186 (36) 204 (40) Tomato 186 (36) 118 (23) Coconut 4(1) 182 (35) Mango 186 (36) 321 (63) Arecanut 4(1) 182 (35) Sapota 186 (36) 321 (63) Mulbery - (3906) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 4 identified LUCs 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 contribute 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: Sanganahalli micro-watershed (Bangihalli sub-watershed, Gubbi taluk, Tumkur district) is located in between 13026' – 13027' North latitudes and 76051'– 76053' East longitudes, covering an area of about 513.42 ha, bounded by Madhenahalli, Chelur, Harehalli and Sanganahalli 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 Sanganahalli Microwatershed (Bangihalli sub-watershed, Gubbi taluk and Tumkur district) presented here. Social Indicators; Male and female ratio is 46.6 to 53.3 per cent to the total sample population. Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 55.5 per cent to the total population. Literacy population is around 79.4 per cent. Social groups belong to other backward caste (OBC) is around 55.0 per cent. Light petroleum gas (LPG) is the source of energy for a cooking among 70.0 per cent. About 27.2 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card. Majority of farm households (50.0 %) 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 90.0 per cent of sample households. Institutional participation is only 2.2 per cent of sample households. Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevalent among 10.5 per cent of farm households. Women participation in decisions making for agriculture production among all households. 2 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 61.9 % and irrigated land 38.1 % of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers. Agriculture is the main occupation among 64.5 per cent and agriculture is the main agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 33.3 per cent of sample households. The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 11595 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication. The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 8398 per household, about 60.0 per cent of sample farmers having weeder and sprayer (30.0 %). The average value of livestock is around Rs. 23339 per household; about 52.8 per cent of household are having livestock. The average per capita food consumption is around 683.8 grams (1482.2 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. 41297 per household. About 70.0 per cent of farm households are above poverty line. The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs. 1012. 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. 350 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 177305 per year for the total area of 513.1 ha. The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 57854/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in coconut (Rs. 58886) followed by the mango (Rs. 56822), ragi (Rs. 8191), horse gram (Rs. 4381) and red gram (Rs. 1564). The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 1893/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in ragi (Rs. 2305) and horse gram (Rs. 1482). 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. 343185) followed by red gram (Rs. 67233), mango (Rs. 23323) and horse gram (Rs. 20907). 3 Economic Land Evaluation; The major cropping pattern is ragi (33.2 %) followed by mango (28.2 %), coconut (19.2 %), horse gram (13.3%) and red gram (6.1 %). In Sanganahalli Microwatershed, major soils are Bidanagere (BDG) series is having moderately deep soil depth cover around 22.2 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing coconut (20.1 %) and mango (79.9 %). Niduvalalu (NDL) is also having very deep soil depth cover 16.8 % of area, the crops are coconut (69.1 %) and horse gram (30.9 %). Ranatur (RTR) soil series having very deep soil depth cover around 35.5 % of areas, crops are coconut (50.0 %) and mango (50.0 %) and Thondigere (TDG) soil series having very deep soil depth cover around 22.9 % of area, crops are coconut (25.2 %), horse gram (18.7 %), ragi (46.7 %) and red gram (9.3 %). The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for coconut ranges between Rs.90395/ha in NDL soil (with BCR of 1.95) and Rs.19835 /ha in RTR soil (with BCR of 4.48). In mango the cost of cultivation range between Rs 17724/ha in BDG soil (with of 5.79) and Rs17166/ha in RTR soil (with BCR of 4.32). In horse gram the cost of cultivation cost of cultivation ranges between Rs. 27090/ha in NDL soil (with BCR of 1.01) and Rs. 11695/ha in TDG soil (with BCR of 1.95). In ragi cost of cultivation in TDG soil is Rs. 20625/ha (with BCR of 1.61) and in red gram the cost of cultivation in TDG soil is Rs. 47836/ha (with BCR of 1.0.3). 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. ; Watershed Development Department, Government of Karnataka (World Bank Funded) Sujala –III Project