Geography Lesson 1 Resources and Development ( Long Answers ) For CBSE, Ncert , UP Board and others competative examination

Answer the questions : 

Question : Which is the most widely spread and important soil of India ? State any four characteristics.

                               Or 

Mention any four characteristics of alluvial soil .

                                Or 

How are alluvial soil formed ? How is Bhangar different from khadar ?

Answer : Alluvial soil is the most widely spread an important soil of India .

    Characteristics of Alluvial Soil : 

1:  Alluvial soil is transported soil .Most of the soil are derived from the sediments deposited by rivers as in the Indo - Gangetic plain .Thus the parent material of these soils is of transported origin .

2 : These soil consist of varying proportion of sand ,silt and clay . In the upper coarse of the river ,the soil is coarse. The middle coarse,it is less coarse and finely grained in the lower coarse .

3 : Alluvial Soils as whole ,are very good and fertile.

4 : Due to high fertility, regions of this soil is intensively cultivated and densely populated.

5 : The old alluvium often contains Kankar , nodules with calcium carbonate in the subsoil.The new alluvium is more fertile than the old alluvium.

6 : Alluvial soil are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy,wheat ,pulse etc.

Difference between Khadar (New ) and Bhangar (old ) soil : 

Khadar.  : 1: It is new Alluvial soil .

                  2: The khadar soils are found in the low areas of the valley , bottom of valley which are flooded every year .

3 : The khadar soils are more fertile as these are found in the low areas of bottom valley which are flooded almost every year.

4: It has high concentration of kankar nodules.

5: There are more fine particles in it .

Bhangar :  1: It is old alluvial soil .

                    2 : The bhanger soils are found in the higher reaches , about 30m above the flood level .

3 : These soils are less fertile as they are found on the higher reaches, about 30m above the flood level .

4: It has less concentration of kankar nodules.

5 : There are less fine particles in it .

Question : Which soil is called regur soil ? Mention any four characteristics of this type of soil .

Answer : 

Regur Soil : These soils are black in colour and are also known as regur or black cotton soils . These soils are ideal for growing cotton. Black or regur soil is found in the plateau of Maharashtra, Saurashtra,Malwa , Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and extent in the south east direction along Godavari and Krishna valley.

Characteristics of Black Soil: 

1: These have been formed due to withering of lava flows.

2: The black soils are made of extremely fine material as clayey material.

3 : These soils are rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate ,  potash and lime .

4 : These soils are generally poor in phosphoric content.

5 : These are well known for their capacity to hold moisture.

Question: What is soil erosion? Explain the major types of soil erosions prevailing in India.

Answer : 

Meaning of soil erosion : Soil erosion is the gradual removal of the top soil cover by the forces of nature like wind , water etc and by animal and human interference. 

 There is a balance between the soil forming process and the Erosional process. The balance can be distributed by natural or human factors.

Type of Soil Erosion : 

 (A) Water Erosion : Water is a powerful agent of soil erosion. Following are the major types of erosion caused by water: 

 1: Sheet erosion:  When the top layer of the soil is removed over a large area by the running water , it is called as sheet erosion.

 2: Rill Erosion: This is the second stage of sheet erosion. If erosion continues unchecked for sufficient time , Rill or small finger shaped grooves which are a few centimetres in depth ,may develop on the landscape. Over a period of time ,the fine rills increase in a number and become deeper and wider and resemble the twings , branches and trunk of a tree . It is known as rill erosion.

3: Gully Erosion : This is the third stage of sheet Erosion. With further erosion of the soil ,the rills may deepen and become enlarged and are ultimately turned into gullies . The main cause of gully erosion is the removal of vegetation, particularly of trees with their widespread binding roots . Gullies cut up agricultural land and the entire area may be turned into a bad land topography. Gully Erosion is also responsible for the formation of ravines .

(B) Wind Erosion : Wind is a powerful agent of erosion in arid and semi arid lands with little rainfall. Winds can lift the valuable topsoil from one area and deposit in another area . The wind erosion is very dangerous type of erosion because due to wind most of the deserts of the world are expanding.

Question : Explain the land use pattern of India.

Answer : 1: The net sown area in India has decreased from 45.26% to 43.41% .This means that more and more agricultural land is being shifted to other activities.This is not a healthy trend and must be checked. The steps taken by government has resulted in increase of net sown area to 47%in2005-06.

2: The pattern of the net sown area varies greatly from one state to another . It is over 80% of the total area in Punjab and Haryana and less than 10%in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar islands.

3 : The area under forests has increased from 18.11% in 1960-61 to 22.57% in 2000-03 and to 23% in 2005-06 yet it is far below than the scientific norms.

4: The land under permanent pasture is very low. This shows the tremendous pressure of livestock population of agriculture land . Cattle are reared mainly on the farm waters , grain chaff and a few fodder cropes.

5 : Area under fallow land has also decreased which shows that subsistence agriculture is being replaced by commercial agriculture.

6 :  A part of the land is termed as waste land and land put to other non agricultural uses . Waste land included Rocky , arid and desert areas and land put to other non agricultural uses includedes settlement, roads, railways , industries etc.

Question : What is soil conservation? Explain any three methods of soil conservation suitable to Indian conditions.

                Or 

Explain any four proper farming techniques which can be used for soil conservation.

Answer : Meaning of Soil Conservation: Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil from erosion or degradation.

Measures of soil conservation: 

 1: Crop Rotation: If the same crop is sown in the same field ,year after year,  this  consumer certain nutrients from the soil making it infertile. Crop rotation can check this type of erosion.

2 : Settled Agriculture: Checking and reducing shifting agriculture by persuading the tribal people to switch over the settled agriculture.

3 : Terracing and Contour Bunding : This across the hill slopes is a very effective and one of the oldest methods of soil conservation. Hill slope is cut into a number of terraces having horizontal top and steep slopes on the back and front. Contour Bunding involved the construction of bank along the contour.

4 : Strip Cropping : Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind . This method is known as strip Cropping.

5 : Shelter Belt :  Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works effectively. Rows of such trees are called shelter belts . They reduce the wind flow and loose soil is not blown away . Trees roots check erosion of water . These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the stabilisation of sand dunes and in stabilising desert in western India .

Self Assessment:

1 : What is soil . Explain it's kind . On the physical map of India ,mark the various types of soil found in India .