th962700034

							4.3.2 Extent of Cropping intensity
        The details of cropping intensity computed for different soils over pre-degradation
levels and over normal soils during 2004-05 are given Table 4.15 and 4.16 and Fig.4.8.
        In general the cropping intensity decreased with increase in degradation of soils
(Table 4.15). The cropping intensity before degradation in waterlogged soils was 173.76 per
cent while that of moderate and severe saline soils before their degradation was about 174.00
per cent. The present cropping intensities in the waterlogged, moderately saline and severe
saline soils were 81.44, 90.60 and 33.55 percents, respectively. The corresponding reduction
in cropping intensities due to land degradation was found to be 92.32, 84.10 and 140.45 per
cent.
         Similar trend of reduction in cropping intensity was noticed when intensity of normal
soils is compared with degraded soils (Table 4.16). The reduction in cropping intensity in
degraded soils over normal soils was 106.38 per cent in waterlogged soils and it was 97.22
and 154.27 percents, respectively in moderately saline and severe saline soils during 2004-
05.
4.3.3 Productivity pattern
         Productivity levels of major crops grown on normal and degraded soils (Table 4.17)
indicated that, the productivity of paddy on normal soils during kharif (67.94 qtls/ha) and
rabi/summer (66.26 qtls/ha) 2004-05 were significantly higher than in waterlogged (30.06
qtls/ha and 30.99 qtls/ha), moderately saline (34.34 qtls/ha and 34.10 qtls/ha) and severe
saline (22.57 qtls/ha and 21.83 qtls/ha) soils. There was a significant decrease in the average
paddy yield in waterlogged, moderate and severe saline soils over normal soils. Such
reduction in kharif paddy yield in these degraded soils was 55.76, 49.46 and 66.78 percents,
respectively. Similar declining trend in the productivity of paddy over normal soils was
observed in rabi/summer season. Further, the productivities of all the crops were significantly
lower in all the degraded soils as compared to normal soils. The decline in yields of cotton
after soil degradation ranged between 60.00 and 70.00 percent and in the case of rabi
sorghum, it was between 62.00 and 85.00 percents over normal soils. Similar trend of decline
in yield was noticed with respect to cotton and rabi sorghum after soil degradation over those
before soil degradation. The yields of different crops before degradation and those in the
normal soils were almost on par indicating that, given the state of technology, the stability in
yield levels could be maintained in the command area if the constraint of soil degradation are
effectively managed. Plate 4.4 and Plate 4.5 reveals poor growth performance of cotton and
paddy crops under saline and waterlogged soil conditions.
4.3.4 Input utilization pattern
        In this section, the input utilization pattern in respect of kharif and rabi/summer paddy
during 2004-05 is presented in Tables 4.18 and 4.19.
        The average per hectare use of different inputs on paddy during kharif and
rabi/summer by sample farmers in different soils is presented in Tables 4.18 and 4.19. Input
use pattern in paddy in both the seasons clearly indicated that, the extent of different inputs
used in waterlogged soils were significantly lower than that of normal soils except irrigation,
phosphorous        and       potassium.       Further,     the      levels      of       inputs
used in moderately saline soils were relatively higher than those of waterlogged           and
severe saline soils. The significant reduction in the use of seeds was noticed in case of
moderate and severe saline soils over normal soils while, its use increased significantly in
waterlogged soils in both the seasons.
4.3.5 Cost of cultivation
        The details of cost of production of paddy in different degraded soils by seasons
during 2004-05 are furnished in the Table 4.20 and Fig.4.9 and Table 4.21 and Fig.4.10.
        The data on per hectare cost of cultivation comprising variable and fixed components
during kharif and rabi/summer seasons are presented in Tables 4.20 and 4.21. The data on
costs revealed that generally cost on most of the inputs incurred in the degraded soils of all
types were lower than that incurred on normal soils by the sample farmers in both the
seasons.
Table 4.14. Cropping pattern recommended for UKP Stage-I command area

                                                             Shallow to medium
                                       Percentage                                      Percentage
    Season       Deep black soils                            deep black and red
                                       apportioned                                     apportioned
                                                                    soils
 Kharif          Maize,                                      Hybrid sorghum,
                 green peas,                                 maize, groundnut,
                 hybrid sorghum,            47.50            green peas,                  60.00
                 groundnut                                   sunflower,
                                                             pearl millet
 Bi-seasonal     Pigeon pea chilli,                          Pigeon pea,
                 cotton,                                     chilli,
                 onion                      42.50            cotton,                      32.50
                                                             onion
 Rabi            Wheat                                       Hybrid sorghum,
                 safflower,                                  hybrid maize,
                 grams,                     25.00            sunflower,                   30.00
                 sunflower                                   groundnut
                 Total                      115.00                                       122.00

Source : Master Plan for Operation and Maintenance for UKP Stage–I, Executive Summary,
          Irrigation Department, Govt. of Karnataka by WAPCOS



Table 4.15. Cropping intensity in waterlogged, moderately saline and severe saline
             soils over pre-degradation period

                                                                           Post-
                                                                                      Reduction in
                   Gross                                               degradation
                                   Net            Pre-                                  cropping
                cropped area                                             cropping
  Sample                         cropped       degradation                            intensity due
                   before                                                intensity
  Category                         area         cropping                                 to land
                 degradation                                           during 2004-
                                   (ha)         intensity                              degradation
                    (ha)                                                     05
                                                   (%)                                     (%)
                                                                            (%)

Waterlogged        439.95          253.20           173.76                81.44          92.32

Moderately
                   431.15          246.80           174.70                90.60          84.10
saline

Severe saline      497.65          286.00           174.00                33.55         140.45
Table 4.16. Cropping intensity in waterlogged, moderately saline and severe
            saline soils over normal soils during 2004-05


   Sample          Gross cropped     Net cropped     Cropping        Reduction in
   Category          area after       area (ha)      intensity    cropping intensity in
                  degradation (ha)                      (%)       degraded soils over
                                                                      normal soils
                      460.54            245.20        187.82                  -
Normal
                      206.20            253.20        81.44             106.38
Waterlogged

Moderately            223.60            246.80        90.60              97.22
saline

Severe saline          95.96            286.00        33.55             154.27