LAND RESOURCES OF KARNATAKA Land Utilization Use of

LAND RESOURCES OF KARNATAKA

Land Utilization ü Use of land for various purposes is called ‘Land utilization’. ü All the land is not equally suitable for all the activities. ü Physical features like relief, type of soil, climate, availability of water influence land utilization. ü Cultivable land, forest land, fallow land, land for residential & construction purposes, barren land. ü Land utilization is essential for economic development.

Land Utilization Patterns Cultivable Land used for construction Forest Area Fallow Land

Land Utilization Patterns ü Net Sown Area : § The total area sown with crops and orchards. § Gulbarga has highest cultivable land & Bangalore has least. ü Forest Area : § A forest is a large area of land covered with trees or other woody vegetation. § Uttara Kannada has large forest area & Bijapur has least. ü Land used for non-cultivation purposes : § Used for construction of roads, bridges, railways, residences etc. § Bangalore Urban has highest construction land & Bidar has least.

Land Utilization Patterns ü Other Uncultivated Land : § Consists of permanent grazing land, trees & grooves. § Shimoga has highest uncultivated land & Bagalkot has least. ü Fallow Land : § Land which has not been cultivated for few years. § Gulbarga has large fallow land & Chikamagalur, Kodagu has least. Grazing Land Groves Barren Land

Agriculture ü Cultivation of land for raising crops is called Agriculture. ü Animal husbandry, poultry, sericulture, apiculture also part of agricultural activities. ü The rural population of India and Karnataka depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture Animal Husbandry Poultry Farming

Types of cultivation Subsistence Farming Plantation Farming Irrigation Faming Dryland Farming

Types of cultivation ü Subsistence Farming : Crops are grown by the farmers for home consumption and not for selling in the market. ü Irrigation Farming : Crops are grown by using water from canals, tanks or wells. ü Dry or Dryland Farming : Cultivation of crops depend on rain. ü Plantation Farming : Plantation agriculture is a form of commercial farming where crops are grown for profit. Large land areas are needed for this type of agriculture.

Types of cultivation ü Shifting Cultivation : Farmers clear land by slashing vegetation and burning forests and woodlands to create clear land for agricultural purposes. ü Mixed Farming : An agricultural system in which a farmer conducts different agricultural practice together, such as cash crops and livestock. Shifting Cultivation Mixed Farming

Crops of Karnataka ü Food Crops : Paddy, Ragi, Jowar, Pulses etc. ü Commercial Crops : Sugarcane, Cotton, Tobacco etc. ü Oilseeds : Sunflower, Sesame, Groundnut etc. ü Plantation Crops : Coffee, Coconut, Rubber, Banana etc.

Food Crops

Paddy ü Most important ‘Kharif’ crop & the staple diet of the people of Karnataka. Grown in 28% of the cultivable land. ü Geographical Requirements : § Abundant rainfall § Warm temperature § Loamy /clayey soil. ü Areas in Karnataka : Krishna-Tungabhadra valley, Kaveri valley & coastal districts. ü Highest Rice producing area – Raichur district.

Jowar ü ‘Kharif crop’ & the staple diet of the people of North Karnataka. Grown in 26% of the cultivable land. ü Geographical Requirements : § Moderate rainfall § Moderate temperature § Mixed black & red soil & alluvial soil ü Areas in Karnataka : Except few districts of South Karnataka. ü Highest Jowar producing area – Gulbarga district.

Ragi ü ‘Kharif crop’ & the important food of the people of South Karnataka. Grown in 14% of the cultivable land. ü Geographical Requirements : § Moderate rainfall § High temperature § Red, sandy & loamy soil ü Areas in Karnataka : Districts of Southern Maidan. ü Highest Jowar producing area – Tumkur district.

Commercial Crops

Sugarcane ü Most important commercial & industrial crop. Karnataka ranks 4 th in India in sugarcane production. ü Geographical Requirements : § Abundant rainfall § High temperature § Sandy, Loamy & Red soil. ü Areas in Karnataka : Belgaum, Bagalkot, Mandya, Mysore, Shimoga, Davangere, Hassan, Koppal, Bijapur, Bidar, Bellary & Haveri ü Highest Sugarcane producing area – Belgaum district.

Cotton ü Fiber crop used as raw material for industries & as cattle feed. It is a Kharif crop. ü Geographical Requirements : § Moderate rainfall § High temperature § Black Soil. ü Areas in Karnataka : Haveri, Dharwad, Gadag, Mysore, Bellary, Raichur, Gulbarga, Belgaum, Davangere, Chitradurga, Koppal & Bijapur. ü Highest Cotton producing area – Haveri district.

Tobacco ü Major commercial crop of Karnataka grows Virginia tobacco, Beedi tobacco & chewing tobacco. ü Geographical Requirements : § Moderate rainfall § High temperature § Loamy Soil. ü Areas in Karnataka : Hasan, Shimoga, Kodagu, Belgaum, Bellary, Chitradurga, Raichur, Davangere, Tumkur & Gadag. ü Highest Tobacco producing area – Mysore district.

Coffee ü Major plantation & beverage crop of Karnataka grows Arabica & Robusta variety of coffee. ü Geographical Requirements : § Heavy rainfall § Warm temperature/shady land. § Clay mixed soil. ü Areas in Karnataka : Malnad Region - Kodagu, Chikamagalur, Hasan, Shimoga, Chamarajnagar, Dakshin Kannada. ü Highest Coffee producing area – Kodagu district.