Current Science

Rajendra Hegde ¹, A. Natarajan ¹, R. S. Meena ², K. V. Niranjana ¹, S. Thayalan ¹, S. K. Singh ³

Affiliations
1 National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR), Hebbal, Bengaluru 560 024, IN
2 National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR), Udaipur, Rajastan 313 001, IN
3 National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR), Amravathi Road, Nagpur 440 033, IN

Abstract

Of late, the crop productivity levels in many irrigated command areas have plateaued or started declining rapidly due to the deterioration of soil health. Unscientific and excessive irrigation, growing crops not compatible with the soils and unscientific management of soils are the main causes for the present situation. Waterlogging, increased salinity/sodicity, nutrient imbalance, shrinking diversity of micro-flora and fauna have become major constraints limiting the choice of crop and crop productivity. We present a study on this issue from the Cauvery command area. Detailed cadastral-level survey taken up to study the status of soil and other resources occurring in Chikkarasinakere block of Mandya district, Karnataka during 2010 has brought out the alarming state of land degradation observed in the area. Nearly 59% of the area is suffering from various degrees of chemical and physical degradation. The situation becomes alarming because the area had well-drained red soils highly suitable for irrigated agriculture when irrigation was introduced during 1930s. The process of degradation will accelerate if appropriate interventions/investments are not undertaken on priority. Continuation of present management practices can rapidly damage the soil health. As the command area is one of the important rice bowls of Karnataka, there is an urgent need to reverse the process of degradation by adopting site-specific interventions as indicated in the study. The present study reveals that the Cauvery command are in Karnataka is losing Rs 1000 crores every year due to this problem.

Keywords

Crop Productivity, Irrigated Command Area, Nutrient Imbalance, Land Degradation, Soil Salinity/Alkalinity.

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Rajendra Hegde ¹, K. V. Niranjana ¹, S. Srinivas ¹, B. A. Danorkar ¹, S. K. Singh ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, R.C. Bengaluru - 560 024, IN
2 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur - 440 033, IN

Abstract

Land resource inventory for site-specific planning and development of watersheds on scientific basis under Sujala-III project sponsored by the Watershed Development Department of Karnataka and funded by the World Bank is being implemented in 11 districts covering 9.66 lakh ha across 2531 microwatersheds benefiting 7.02 lakh households in the state. The analysis and interpretation of the spatial and non-spatial database generated so far in 1600 microwatersheds covering 5 lakh ha has revealed that most of the watersheds suffer from major problems. In many watersheds, soil erosion and alkalinity affected even up to 75% of the watershed area, thus reducing the production potential and crop choices. The soils are either moderately or highly suited for growing most of the agricultural and horticultural crops. By interfacing land resource data with RS, GIS and GPS, different management scenarios were analysed to arrive at the best management alternatives (optimum land use plans) that would be most suitable. This data handling system will be useful for making land use decisions and providing proactive advice to farmers on a real time basis protecting the health of natural resources.

Keywords

Digital Library, Land Resource Inventory, Land Resources Portal, Land Resource Database Analysis and Interpretaion, Sujala-III Project.

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