India Land and the People

8/12/2019 India Land and the People

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INDIA LAND AND THE PEOPLE

GEOGRPHY

Lesson1

Resources and Development

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Coal, iron ore, petroleum, diesel etc. are the examples of

a) Biotic resources b) Abiotic resources

c) Renewable resources d) Non Renewable resources

2. Which one of the following term is used to identify the old and new alluvial respectively ?

a) Khadas & Tarai b) Tarai & Bangar

c) Bangar & Khadar d) Tarai & Dvars

3. Which one of the following soil is the best for cotton cultivation ?

a) Red soil b) Black soil

c) Laterite soil d) Alluvial soil

4. How much percentage of forest area in the country according to the National Forest Policy.

a) 33% b) 37%

c) 27% d) 31%

5. Which type of soil develops due to high temperature and evaporation ?

a) Arid Soil b) Forest Soil

c) Black Soil d) Red Soil

6. Which one of the following resources can be acquired by the Nation ?

a) Potential resources b) International resourcesc) National resources d) Public resources

7. Which one of the following is responsible for sheet erosion ?

a) Underground water b) Wind

c) Glacier d) Water

8. Which one of the following method is used to break up the force of wind?

a) Shelter belt b) Strip Cropping

c) Contour ploughing d) Terrace farming

9 Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Madhya Pradesh ?

a) Mining b) Overgrazingc) Deforestation d) Over Irrigation

10. Which one of the following statements refers to the sustainable development ?

a) Overall development of various resources

b) Development should take place without damaging the environment.

c) Economic development of people.

d) Development that meets the desires of the members of all communities.

11. Khader is a type ofa) Black Soil b) Alluvial Soil


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c) Lattrite Soil d) Desert Soil

Ans. Alluvial Soil

12. Resource which can be renewed again are:-

a) National Resource b) Potential Resource

c) Renewable Resources d) Stock

Ans. Renewable Resources13. In which year earth Summit held

a) 1990 b) 1991

c) 1992 d) 1993

Ans. 1992

14. How much percentage of land are plain in India?

a) 41 % b) 45%

c) 43% d) 47%

Ans. 43%

15. Which Soil is known as Black Cotton soil?

a) Red Soil b) Arid Soil

c) Mountain Soil d) Black SoilAns. Black Soil

16. Soil can be Conserver by:-

a) Cutting of Tree b) Over Grazing

c) Planting of Tree d) Excessive mining

Ans. Planting of Tree

17. Land degradation due to over irrigation can be seen in the states of:-

a) Punjab and Haryana b) Assam

c) Orissa d) Mizoram

Ans. Punjab and Haryana

18. Which one of the following is an example of Biotic Resource:-

a) Rock b) Mountain

c ) Mineral d)Flora

Ans. Flora

19. They are Gifts of Nature which satisfy Human wants:-

a) A Commodity b) a Thing

c) Resource d) None of Them

Ans. Resources

20. Which one the following is an example of non- renewable resources

a) Solar Energy b) Tidal Energy

c) Petroleum d) Hydel Energy

Ans. Petroleum21. On the Basis of ownership resources can be classified into:-

a) Two Type b) Three Type

c) Four Type d) None of Them

Ans. Four Type

22. How many Economic zones are in India?

a) Five b) One

c) Two d) Ten

Ans. Five

23. Soil is a:-

a) Renewable Resource b) Potential Resource

c) Non- Resource d) None of themAns. Renewable Resource


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24. In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised?

a) Punjab b) Haryana

c) Uttar Pradesh d) Uttarnchal

Ans. Uttarnchal

25. Which one of the following in the main cause of land and water pollution in

India in recent year?a) Industrial Effluents b) Chemical Fertilizer

c) Deforestation d) None of them

Ans. Industrial Effluents

Answers key of MCQ :

(1) d (2) c (3) b (4) a (5) a

(6) c (7) d (8) a (9) c (10) b


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Short Answer Type Questions :

Q 1.What is a Resources? Give two examples.

Ans. Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, provided, it is

technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable can be termed as Resource.Coal, water, air, minerals, etc. are some examples of resources.

Q. 2.What is the role of humans in resource development?.

Ans.

i). Human beings interact with nature through technology, and create institutions to accelerate their

economic development.

ii). Human beings transfer materials available in our environment into resource, and use them.

Q. 3 What is sheet erosion?

Ans. When the top layer of the soil is removed over a large area by the running water, it is called sheet

erosion.

Q. 4.Which soil is well known for its capacity to hold moisture? Give reason.

Ans. . Black soil. Because black soil is made up of extremely fine clayey material.

Q. 5. How does over irrigation lead to land degradation?

Ans. Over irrigation degrades the land due to water logging leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity

of the soil.

Q. 6.What are shelter belts?

Ans. Rows of trees which are planted in between the crops are known as shelter belts.

Q. 7. What is contour ploughing?Ans. . Ploughing along the contour lines is known as contour ploughing.

Q. 8.What is strip cropping?

Ans. Under strip cropping, large fields are divided into strips and different types of crops are grown on

alternative strips along contours or across the prevailing direction of winds. This break up the force of

the wind.

Q. 9.What is leaching? Name the soils which develop due to leaching.

Ans. Leaching is a process by which the nutrients in the soil are washed away by heavy rains. Laterite

soils develop due to leaching.

Q. 10. Discuss the problems which have been caused due to over utilization of resources.

Ans.

i). Depletion of resources:- Overutilization has led to the depletion of the resources for meeting the greed

of few individuals. For example, over utilization of petroleum products has led to a situation where most

of the countries of the world are facing energy crisis.

ii). Concentration of resources:- This has divided the society into haves and have not or the rich and the

poor.

iii). Global ecological crisis:- Over-utilization of resources has led to the global ecological crisis such as

global warming, depletion or ozone layer, pollution and land degradation.

Q. 11India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources. Explain.


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Ans.

i). The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in mineral resources but lacks

industrialization.

ii). Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources, but lacks in infrastructural development. The

state of Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy, but lack in water resources. The cold

desert area of Ladakh is relatively isolated from the rest of the country due to lack of means oftransportation and communication.

Q. 12.How over irrigation and mining leads to land degradation?

Ans.

i). Over irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to water logging which leads to increase in

salinity and alkalinity in the soil.

ii). The minerals procession like grinding of limestone for cement industry and calcite and soapstone for

ceramic industry generate huge quantity of dust in the atmosphere. It retards the process of infiltration

of water into the soil after it settles down on the land.

Q.13. Explain the major factors which are responsible for the formation of soil.Ans.

i). Relief, parent rock or bed rock, climate, vegetation and other forms of life and time are important

factors in the formation of soil.

ii) Various forces of nature such as change in temperature, actions of running water, wind and glaciers,

activities of decomposers, etc. contribute to the formation of soil.

iii). Chemical and organic changes which take place in the soil are equally important.

iv) Soil also consists of organic (humus) and inorganic materials.

Q. 14Humus content of the laterite soil is very low. Explain by giving two reasons

Ans.

i). The soil is formed due to intense leaching. So the nutrients of the soil are washed away by heavy rains.ii). The soil is formed in the regions of high temperature. So most of the micro-organisms, particularly

the decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed.

Q. 15.What is resource planning? Mention the steps which are involved in resource planning.

Ans. A resource planning is a technique or skill of proper or judicious use of resources.

i). Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This involves surveying,

mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the resources.

ii). Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional set up for

implementing resource development plans.

iii). Matching tthe resource development plants with overall national development plans.

Q. 16.Why is there a need to conserve resources? What was Gandhijis opinion regarding theconservation of resources?

Ans.

i). Most of the resources have limited supply.

ii). Overutilization of resources may lead to environmental problems.

iii). Overutilization of resources may lead to socio-economic problems.

Why is it necessary to conserve resources? Explain. Ans. Conservation of resources is necessary because it will provide sustainable benefit to the

present generation and it will also maintain the potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future


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generations it will enforcing conservation for the future laws and it will estimating resource

requirements.

Gandhiji was very apt in voicing his concern about resource conservation. He said, There isenough for everybodys need, and not for anybodys greed. According to him, it was the greedy

and selfish individuals who were responsible for depletion of resources. He was in favour of

producing for the masses than mass production.

Q. 17. What are the ways to classify resources?

Ans.

i) . On the basis of originbiotic and abiotic.

ii). On the basis of exhaustibilityrenewable and non-renewable.

iii). On the basis of ownershipindividual, community, national and international.

iv). On the basis of the state of developmentpotential, developed and stock.

Q. 18.Explain the classification of resources on the basis of exhaustibility.

Ans.

i). Renewable resources:- Renewable resources are the natural resources which can be used against and

again or can be reproduced by physical, mechanical and chemical processes. Solar energy, air, water and

soil are some of the renewable resources of energy.

ii). Non-renewable resources:- Non-renewable resources are the natural resources that cannot be

replaced at all or within a reasonable time. Fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal are examples of non-

renewable resources. These resources accumulated over millions of years. They are considered to be non-

renewable resources because once they are used up, they are gone forever.

Distinguish between the Renewable and Non- Renewable Resources.

Ans. Renewable Resources

1) These Resources are those which once mined and used can be regenerated.2) These Resources which may be obtained continuously.

Example : Land, water plants etc.

Non Renewable Resources.

1) These Resources are those which once mined and used cannot be regenerated.

2) All mineral Resources are limited.

Example : Coal, Mineral-oil etc.

Q.19. Explain the classification of resources on the basis of origin.

Ans.

i). Biotic :- All those resources which are obtained from the biosphere and have life are known as biotic

resources. Biotic resources normally forest, livestock, etc are examples of renewable biotic resources.

ii) . Abiotic:- All those resources which are composed of non-living things are called abiotic resources.

Abiotic resources can be renewable as well as non-renewable resources. Land and water are renewable

abiotic resources whereas, iron and bauxite are non-renewable abiotic resources.

Q. 20.Explain the classification of resources on the basis of ownership.

Ans.

i). Individual resources:- Resources which are owned by private individuals are known as individual

resources. Plots, fields, houses, cars, books etc are some examples of individual resources.ii). Community owned resources:- The resources which are accessible to all the members of the


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community are known as community resources. Village ponds, public parks, playgrounds, etc are some

examples of community resources.

iii). National resources : - All the resources which are under the control of state or union government are

called national resources. All resources within political boundaries are national resources because the

government has the power to acquire even the private properties.

iv). International resources:- These resources are owned and regulated by international institutions. Theoceanic resource beyond 200 km of the Exclusive Economic Zone belongs to the open ocean, and on

individual country can utilize these without the concurrence of international institutions. Indian has got

the right to mire manganese nodules from the bed of the Indian Ocean from that area which lies beyond

the Exclusive Economic Zone.

Classify resources on the basis of ownership into four categories. Mention the main feature of each.

Ans. (1) Individual resources: Owned privately by individual. Example houses pasture etc.

(2) Community Owned resources : accessible to all the members of the Community. Example : Play

ground park etc.

(3) National resources : within the political boundaries of the country.

Example : Minerals, forests etc.

(4) International resources : The oceanic resources beyond 200 Km. of the Exclusive Economic Zone

belong to international institutions.

Q. 21. Why is there a need for resource planning?

Ans.

i) Most of the resources are limited in supply.

ii). Most of the resources are unevenly distributed over the country.

iii). Overutilization of the resources may lead to pollution of the environment.iv). There is a need to plan the human resources because only then we would be able to develop our

natural resources.

Q. 22.How is land a natural resources of utmost importance? Explain with four facts.

Ans.

i) . All economic activities are performed on land.

ii). It supports natural vegetation and wildlife.

iii). Most of the minerals are formed in land.

iv). It is used for transport and communication system.

Q. 23.Distinguish between Khaddar and Bhangar.

Ans.

Khaddar (New)

i). The Khaddar soils are found in the low areas of the valley bottom of a valley which are flooded every

year.

ii). These soils are finer in texture.

iii). The khaddar soils are more fertile as these are found in the low areas of bottom of a valley which are

flooded almost every year.

Bhangar (Old)

i). The Bhangar soils are found in the higher reaches, about 30 m above the flood level.

ii). These are coarse in texture.

iii). These soils are less fertile as these are found on the higher reaches, about 30 m above the flood level.


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Write two characteristics each of Khadar and Bangar ?

Ans. Khaddar (New Alluvium)

1) New Alluvium a new soil

2) Very fertile soil less Kankar nodules

Bhangar (Old Alluvium)

1) Old Alluvium or Old soil

2) Not to fertile, often contains Kankar nodules

Q.24. Write short notes on soil erosion.

Ans.

i). The removal of soil by the forces of nature, particularly wind and water is known as soil erosion.

ii). Wind and water are powerful agents of soil erosion because of their ability to remove soil and

transport it.

iii). Soil erosion makes the land unsuitable for cultivation and the land so developed is called bad land.iv) Soil erosion in certain areas has become a menace. Large areas of agricultural land in the states of

Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat have been transformed into ravines.

v). Gully erosion is the most spectacular type of erosion. This has already degraded about 40 lakh

hectares of land in the country. Reducing flow of water by constructing bandhs, by planting more trees,

by restricting grazing of animals, and applying proper farming techniques are some of the methods to

check soil erosion.

Q. 25.Mention any four characteristics of black soil.

Ans.

i). The black soils are made of extremely fine materials i.e., clayey materials.

ii) These soils are rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, potash andlime.

iii). These soils are generally poor in phosphoric content.

v). The soil is well known for its capacity to hold moisture.

Q. 26. How is red soil formed? Mention its three characteristics.

Ans. Formation:- Most of the red soils have come into existence due to weathering of ancient crystalline

igneous rocks.

Features :-

i). Soils are loamy in deep depressions and in uplands. They consist of loose gravels and highly coarse

materials.

ii). The color of these soils is generally red, often grading into brown, chocolate or yellow. The red color

is due to wide diffusion rather than high percentage of iron content. It looks yellow when it occurs in a

hydrated form.

iii). Soils are deficient in phosphoric acid, organic matter and nitrogenous materials but are fairly rich in

potash. But crops are cultivated with the use of fertility.

Q. 27.How is Mountain soil (Forest soil) formed? Mention any four characteristics of forest soil.

Ans. Formation:- The soils are formed due to mechanical weathering caused by snow, rain, temperature

variation, etc.

Features :-

i). These soils are heterogeneous (diverse) in nature, and their character changes with mountainenvironment and altitude.


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ii). The soils are very rich in humus, but are deficient in potash, phosphorus and lime.

iii). The soils are especially suitable for plantation of tea, coffee, spices and tropical fruits.

iv)The soil is loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes. It is acidic with low

humus content in the snow covered areas. It is fertile in the lower parts of the valleys.

Q. 28.Mention any four features of the arid soils.

Ans.

i). The soil range red to brown in color.

ii). The soils contain considerable amount of soluble salts.

iii) .The soils contain low percentage of organic matter due to dry climate and absence of vegetation.

iv). The soil is alkaline in nature as there is not rainfall to wash soluble salts.

v). The soils are infertile but with irrigation and fertilizers, the drought resistant and salt tolerant dry

crops such as barley, cotton, wheat, millets, maize, pulses, etc are grown.

Q. 29. Explain any four proper farming techniques which can be used for soil conservation.

Ans.

i). Crop rotation:- If the same crop is sown in the same field, year after year this consumes certainnutrients from the soil making it infertile. Crop rotation can check this type of erosion.

ii). Settled agriculture:- Checking and reducing shifting agriculture by persuading the tribal people to

switch over the settled agriculture.

iii) . Terracing and contour bunding:- Terracing and contour bunding across the hill slopes is a very

effective and oldest method 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 involves the construction of bank

along the contour.

iv). Shelter belts and strip cropping:- Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to

grow between the crops. This breaks the force of the wind. Planting lines of trees to create shelter also

works in a similar way. Rows of such trees are called shelter belts.

Q30. What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in hilly areas ?

Ans. 1) Terracing on hilly area

2) Buildings Dams on hilly areas

3) Afforestation

4) Contour bunding

5) Restricted grazing of animals

Q31. When and why was the Rio-de-Janero Earth summit held ?

Ans. 1992 Rio-de-Janero (Brazil) Earth summit :

To achieve sustainable development in order to combat environment damage, poverty and disease, it laid

emphasis on global cooperation mutual needs and shared responsibilities.

Q32. What type of soil is found in river deltas of the eastern coast ? Give three main features of this type of soil.

Ans. Alluvial Soil

1) Most important soil

2) Such a soil is the result of deposits of river.

3) Very fertile soil.


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Q33. What do you, mean by land use pattern ? Name the factors that determine the use of land.

Ans. Utilization of land for various purposes such as cultivation grazing of animals mining construction of roads

etc.

Factors

1) Topography

2) Climate

3) Human Factor

4) Accessibility

Q34. What is resource planning ? Write any three utility of resources.

Ans. Resource Planning : Resource Planning is a technique of skill of proper utilization of resources.

1. They are beneficial to human being

2. Different types of things are made by them.

3. Resources are limited. Do not waste the great gifts of the nature.

Q35. Describe briefly the distribution of soils found in India.

Ans. (1) Alluvial Soil (2) Black Soil

(3) Red and Yellow Soil (4) Laterite Soil

(5) Mountain Soil (6) Desert Soil

Q36. What is regur soil ? Write its two features. Mention any two regions where regur soil is found.

Ans. Regur soilBlack Soil

Features

1) made up extremely fine

2) have good capacity to hold moisture.

3) develop deep cracks during hot weather.

4) rich in calcium carbonate, potash and lime

Regions

1) MaharashtraMalva Plateau

2) Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh Plateau

Q37. Write the difference between Alluvial and Black Soils?

Ans.

ALLUVIAL Soil :

i)These Soils are formed by the Sediments which are brought up By the River.

ii)These are confined to northern plain and coastal plains.

iii) These are fine and highly fertile

iv) These support many crops like rice and wheat.

v) This is divided into two type Khader and Bhangar.

BLACK Soil :

i) These Soils are formed by weathering of Igneous rocks and lava flows.


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ii)These are found in north western part Of peninsular plateau mainly in Maharastra, part of Gujarat.

iii) These are also fertile Soil.

iv) Cotton grows best in this Soil.

v) It is also known as Black cotton Soil.

Q38. Explain the different methods of controlling Soil Erosion?

Ans. Different Methods of controlling soil erosion are:-

In Hilly Areas:

1. Ploughing along the contour line can slow down the flow of water down the slopes. This is

called contour ploughing.

2. Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terraces cultivation restricts erosion.

Western and Central Himalayas have well developed terrace farming.

Agricultural Regions: - 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.

Dry Areas:- Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rocus

of such trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed significantlyto the stabilisation of sand dunes and in stabilising the desert in western India.

In Industrial and Suburban Areas:- Proper management of waste land, control of

mining activities, proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after

treatment can reduce land water degradation.

Q39.Classify and explain resources on the basis of the status of development and origin?

Ans. On the Basis of the status of development and origin classified as given below:-

1. Potential Resources: - The resources which exist in a given region but have not yet been

exploited are called potential resources.

Himalaya region for Hydel Power, Rajasthan and Gujarat for the windand solar energy are the potential region of India where these resources have not properly

developed so far.

2. Developed Resources: - The resources which are being utilized at present in a given region.

The development of resources then depends upon their quality.

Quality, Technology and level of cultural status of that region. These are being

utilised by the human society at present.

3. Stock: - Those resources in a given environment which could satisfy human needs but are not

accessible to them because of want of an appropriate technology. For example, two

components of water i.e, hydrogen and oxygen can be used as a source of energy but the

required technology is not available to do so. Hence it is seen as a Stock.

4. Reserves: - These are those resources which can be utilised with the existing technology but

they are not being used at present, taking care of the future requirement. Reserves are then thepart of stock such as river water and forest resources are not fully used now.

Q40. Explain some Human activities which are mainly responsible for land degradation in India?

Ans. Human activities such as deforestation, over grazing and mining have contributed significantly

in land degradation.

i) Mining sites are abandoned after mining work is complete leaving deep scars and traces

of over bending.

ii) In states like Jharkhand, Chhattisghar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa deforestation has

occurred due to mining. In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and

Maharastra overgrazing is one of the main seasons for land Degradation.

iii) In Punjab, Haryana, Western Utter Pradesh, over irrigation is responsible for land

degradation due to water logging leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil.


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iv) The minerals processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry and calcite and

soapstone for ceramic industry generates huge quantity of dust in the atmosphere which

retard the process of infiltration of water in to the soil after it settle down on the land.

v) Industrial effluents as waste have become a major source of land and water pollution.

Q41. What is Resources Planning? Why is resources planning necessary in? Give examples.Ans. Planning is a widely accepted strategy for cautious use of resources. In a country like India it isvery important to follow and execute such planning as India has enormous diversity in the

availability of resources. Some regions are rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some

other resources. Some regions are self sufficient in term of the availability of resources while others

have acute shortage of some vital resources. For example:-

The states of Jharkand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal

deposits.

Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructure development.

The state of Rajasthan is very well gifted with solar and wind energy but lacks in water

resources.

The cold desert of Ladakh in relatively isolated from the rest of the country. It has very rich

cultural heritage but it is deficient in water, infrastructure and some vital minerals.So, considering such case of diversity, balanced resources planning at the national

states regional and local levels is required.

Q42. Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-

61?Ans. The total geographical area of India is 3.28 million sq. km. As per the land use data only 93%

of the total geographical area is available of this 43.4% is the net sown area, forest cover is 22.6%,

4.4% is culture able waste, 7.03% is current fallow, 4% is covered by pasture and 1% is covered by

the tree crops. The land under forest has in causes over the year.

The pattern of net sown area varies greatly from one state to another. Forest area in the country is far lower than

the desired 33% of the geographical area, as it was outlined in the Natural Forest- Public Police. The percentage offorest cover is needed to be increased for the maintenance of the ecological balance.

The land under forest did not increase much since 1960- 61 due to several reasons like- The improper use of land which has caused degradation of the available land area and made conservation

of forests difficult.

The even increasing illegal cutting of trees and forest cover to meet the needs of an increasing population. Large scale development projects industrialisation and urbanisation have reduced the forest cover to a

great extent.

Q43. Explain different type of soil found in India with suitable examples?Ans. The different types of soil are found in India are:-

Alluvial Soils: - The entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil. These soils also extend in

Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corrider. These Soils are also found in the eastern coastal

plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri River.

Such soils are also common in plains as Duars, Chos and Terai. Mostly these soils contain adequate

proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy,

wheat and other ceral and pulse crops. These soils are highly fertile.

Black Soils: - It is found in the Deccan trap region spread over north west Deccan Plateau and the

plateau of Maharastra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. These soils are black

in colour and are also known as regur or black cotton soil and is ideal for growing cotton.

Lattrite Soils: - Mainly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Assam

and Andhra Pradesh. Humus content of the soil is low because most of the micro organisms


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particularly they decompose like bacteria get destroyed due to high temperature. These soils are

suitable for cultivation with adequate doses of manure and fertilisers.

Red and Yellow Soils:- Found in parts of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, southern part of the middle Ganga

plain and along the Western Ghats. They become red due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and

metamorphic rocks. It looks Yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.

Arid Soils: - Found in states like Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. Arid soils vary

form red to brown in colour. They are generally sandy in texture.

Forest Soils:- Found in the hilly and mountainous area where adequate rain forests are available.

The soil texture varies according to the loamy and silty in valley sides and cause grained in the

Upper slopes.

Q44.Explain the Soil Erosion and its different types?Ans. The removal of top fertile soil cover due to various reasons like wind, glacier and water is

called soil erosion.

1. When the running water cuts through the clayey soil and make deep channel they arecalled gullies. Due to the formation of gullies the land become unfit for cultivation and is

known as bad land or ravines.

2. When the top soil is washed away due to heavy flow of water down the slopes it is known

as sheet erosion.

3. When the top fertile soil blows off due to wind it is known as wind erosion.

Q45. Examine the interdependent relationship among nature ,technology and institutions in the

economic development. [ in the resource transformation] 1

a) Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to

accelerate economic development.

b) They transform material available in our environment in to resources by using

technology and use them.

Q46. Name the essential component of resources. What is its role in the resource

transformation? 1+2Human beings are the essential components of resources. Human beings interact with nature through

technology and create institutions to accelerate economic development. They transform materials

available in our environment into resources by using technology and use them.

Q47.How are resources classified on the basis of origin? 1a) Biotic resources b) Abiotic resources

Q 48. How are resources classified based on the status of development? 4

a) Potential resources:

Resources, which are found in a region, but have not been utilized, are potential resources. These

resources will be widely used shortly. Wind and solar energy potential in Rajasthan and Gujarat have not

been developed and exploited properly so far.

b) Developed resources:

These are the resources surveyed; quality and quantity have been measured and have been determined

for utilization.c) Stock Resources:


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Resources in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but do not have the

appropriate technology to have an access come under this category. We havent so far developed the

technology to make inflammable gases like hydrogen and oxygen on a large scale from water . So it is

considered a stock.

d) Reserve resources:

These are the subdivision of stock resources and can be put into use by applying the existing technology

but their use has not yet been started. These can be used to meet our future requirements.

Q49. What is meant by Exclusive Economic Zone? 1

a) The UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, 1982, allowed coastal nations to claim a territorial sea of up

to 12 nautical miles.

b) It also allowed jurisdiction over resources, control over fishing right, scientific research, and

environmental protection in a zone up to 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) offshore. It is known as Exclusive

Economic Zone. Beyond this zone, seabed mineral development will be regulated by an international

body.

Q50. What are the major problems developed out of exploiting resources indiscriminately? ( Stateany to effects of indiscriminate exploitation of resources.) 1

a) Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.

b) Accumulation of resources in few hands, which in turn divided the society in to rich

and poor.

b) It has led to ecological crisis such as global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollutionand land degradation.

Q51. Examine the diversity in the availability of resources in India. Give examples. Or

Why is a balanced resource planning essential in India? ( Why is it necessary fora balanced resource planning at the national ,state regional and local levels?) 4

a) There are regions in India which are rich in certain type of resources but are deficient in some other

resources. There are some regions in India which can be considered self sufficient in terms of

availability of resources and there are some other regions which have acute shortage of some vital

resources.

b) The states of Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits.

c) Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural developments.

d) Rajasthan has a lot of solar and wind energy potential but lacks in water resources.

e) The cold area of Ladakh has very rich cultural heritage but is deficient in water, infrastructure and

minerals.

Q52. What are the processes ( stages) involved in the resource planning? 3i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country: This involves surveying,

mapping, qualitative and quantitative estimation, and measurement of resources.

ii) Evolving a planning structure with appropriate technology, skill and institutional

setup for implementing resource development plans.

iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.

Q53. Mere availability of resources will not bring economic development. Give reasons.

3

i) Along with the availability of resources corresponding changes in technology and institutions arerequired for economic development.


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ii) There are many regions in India that are rich in resources but are economically backward. Some other

areas have poor resources but they are economically developed.

iii) It was primarily the higher level of technological development of the colonizing countries that helped

them to exploit resources of other regions and establish their supremacy over the colonies.

Q54.What was Gandhijis opinion about conservation (or over exploitation) ofresources? 1i) Gandhiji said, There is enough resources in India for every bodys need and not

for any bodys greed.

ii) He placed the greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative nature of modern

technology as the root cause for resource depletion at the global level.

iii) He was against mass production and wanted to replace it with the production by

the masses.

Q55.Why is it important to use the available land with careful planning? 3i) We live on land , perform all economic activities on land and use it for variety of

purposes.

ii) Land is a natural resource of utmost importance. It supports natural vegetation,wild life, human life, transport and communication systems.

iii) 95% of our basic needs for food, shelter and clothing are obtained from land

iv) Land available is limited in quantity compared to the size of the population and

hence it requires careful planning

Q56. Assess the land in India under important relief features. 3i. Plains: About 43 % of the land is plain which provides facilities for agriculture and industry.ii. Mountains: It accounts for 30 % of the land and ensure perennial flow of some rivers, provide

facilities for tourism and ecological aspects.

iii. Plateau: About 27 % of the land is plateau. It possesses rich reserves of minerals fossil fuels andforests.

Q57. Give two reasons why we are not able to utilize the total geographical area of India.i) The land use reporting for most of the north- eastern states except Assam has notbeen done fully.

ii) Some areas of Jammu & Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have not been

surveyed.

Q58. What are the most satisfying features of the land use pattern in India? 1a) About 54 % of the total land area is under cultivation in India. It is the

highest percentage in the world.

b) Land under the forests has increased from 18.11% in 1960-61 to 22.57% in

2002-03Culturable Waste land has reduced from 6.23% in 1960-61 to 4.41% in 2002-03.

(Any One)

Q59. State two natural and human activities that lead to land degradation. 1

a. Natural : Soil erosion, land slides, torrential rain

b. Human : Mining and industry. (Explain all)

Q60.How does surface mining and industry lead to land degradation? 4

a. The mining sites are abandoned after excavation is completed.b. Processed soil or waste materials are dumped unscientifically causing the land used and the

land nearby unfit for any use.

c. The mineral processing, like grinding of limestone for cement industry and calcite and


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soapstone for ceramic industry generates heavy amount of dust and releases in the atmosphere.

It settles down in the surrounding areas, affecting infiltration of water and crop cultivation.

d. The industrial effluents released to the air causes acid rain and air and water get polluted.

Q 61. What are ravines? Where is it found? 3

Ravines are bad land, turned unsuitable for cultivation by soil erosion. If the outer cover of the soil is

removed by wind or water, bad Lands are formed. In the Chambal basin such lands are called ravines.

Additional Questions:01. Draw a neat diagram showing the soil profile.

02. On what grounds are soils classified?

i. Soils are classified based on colour, thickness, texture, age, chemical and physical

properties.

03. What is the main purpose of resources? ( to satisfy basic needs of mankind)

04. Which mineral is mined in the Indian Ocean?(Manganese nodules)

05. What is the ill effect of accumulation of resourcesin few hands?

(The society will be divided in to rich and poor)

06. What was the aim of Rio de Janeiro Summit?

(Achieve global sustainable development)

07. Name four ecological crisis: global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental

pollution and land degradation.

08. What were the two aims of first earth summit?

(Environmental protection and economic development)

09. Name two river valleys in South India where black soil is found.

( Godavari valley and Krishna valley)

10. What do you mean by Deccan trap?It is the plateau formed by deposition of Basalt lava.

11. Why are yellow soils yellow in colour? (Due to the presence of iron in hydrated form)

12. Despite enormous potential solar power is not developed in Rajasthan andGujarat. Why ? ( Due to lack of technology and demand)

13. When and where was the first international earth submit held?It was held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 1992

14. What is meant by Agenda 21?i) It was the declaration signed by the world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on

Environment and Development, which took place at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 1992.

ii) It was an agenda to combat environmental damage , poverty, diseases through global cooperation on

common interests mutual needs and shared responsibilities in the 21st

century.iii) One major objective of the Agenda 21 is that every local government should draw its own local

Agenda 21.

15. Name any two books that advocate resource conservation.Small is beautiful written by Schumacher and Our Common future

16. Name any two types of alluvial soils found in piedmont plains.Duars, Chos and Terai.


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OUR RESOUR ESAbiotic resources:- All those resources which are composed of non-living things are called abiotic

resources. Land, water, soil and minerals are some of the abiotic resources.

Bad Land:- It is a land which is unsuitable for cultivation. Mainly soil erosion converts a fertile land intoa bad land. Fallow Land:- It is a cultivable land which is being allowed to rest, outcropped or partially

cropped for one or more seasons so that it can regain its fertility.

Gully Erosion:- Gully erosion takes place when running water cuts deep ravines(deep narrow George) in

the absence of vegetation. This type of erosion makes the soil unfit for cultivation.

Ravines:- This is a land which is unsuitable for cultivation due to soil erosion.

Uncultivable land:- This land cannot be used for cultivation because of several reasons.

Shelter belt:- Rows of trees which are planted in between the crops are known as shelter belts.

Stocks:- These are the materials in the environment which have the potential to satisfy the human needs,

but could not be used as the human beings do not have the appropriate technology.

RESOURCES

Resources is any commodity (thing) that we require for the sustenance of life e.g., land, water,air, cloths, Building etc.

TYPES OF RESOURCES

Resources can be classified over a variety of considerations.

On the basis of renewability resources are classified as renewable or non-exhaustible andthose that are exhaustible or non-renewable.

Based on origin, resources can be classified as Biotic or Abiotic or Inorganic.

Resources may also be classified as those that have been created by nature and those thathave been created by human effort.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Any resources that we obtain form nature e.g., Land Water, Air, etc are called NaturalResources. Natural endowments in the form of land, water, vegetation and minerals are called

natural resources. Natural resources are available in nature. Land, Water, minerals and forests are some

of the natural resources. Land, water, and soil are abiotic resources. Coal and iron ore are biotic resources.

MAN-MADE RESOURCES

Resources that are created by man are called ManMade Resources. Engineeringtechnology, machines, buildings, monuments, paintings and social instructions are some of thehuman resources.


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Human having knowledge and skill, health and several other qualities, are also resources.Human resources are essential for development of natural resources.

RENEWABLE RESOURCES

The resources which have the ability to renew themselves in a given period of time are knownas renewable resources.

Plants and animals have the ability to regenerate themselves and forests and wildlife arerenewable resources.

NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES

The resources which once they exhaust, cannot be remade are known as non-renewableresources.

Minerals, water, solar, wind and tidal energy.

ECONOMIC RESOURCES

The resources which help in the growth and development of economy are called economicresources.

All resources are economic resources.

CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES

The word conservation is derived from two Latin words Can keeping. Serve together.

Conservation of resources means management of resources by humans with the aim at

sustainable benefits to the present as well as future generation. It is a Judicious and planned use of natural resources.

Conservation is needed most for non-renewable resources.

REUSABLE RESOURCES

Are those resources, which can be used again and again . E.g., Water, air etc.

NON-REUSABLE RESOURCES

Are those resources which once used cannot be used again. E.g., wood, coal etc.

RESOURCES PLANNING

Resources planning is a technique or skill of proper utilization of resources.

Resources planning helps in reducing wastage of resources and in keeping the environmentpollution free and takes care of future needs.

Resources planning comprises three stages:- Preparation of inventory of resources.

Evaluation in terms of availability for development. Planning for exploitation of resources.


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The first stage includes surveying, mapping and measurement of characteristics andproperties of resources.

The second stage examines resources from point of view of technology, economy and need.

The third stage is related to action-oriented planning, which emphasizes use and refuse of the

resources.

LAND RESOURCES

Land is a basic resource to man.

The growth of plants and crops depend upon land.

The uppermost layer of the earths crust, which is loose, fragmented, is useful for plants.

It is the basic resource for agriculture and consists of both inorganic and organic substance.

Faulty agricultural practices, deforestation and overgrazing have lead to soil erosion.

SOIL

The upper most layer of the earths crust that has been highly weathered, influenced byclimate, plant growth and microorganisms are referred to as soil.

The word soil is derived from a Latin word Solum which means floor or ground, soil is one ofthe geographical factor, that greatly influences food, clothing, housing and life styles of humanbeings.

By its special qualities, soil influences growth of particular foods, fibers and other agriculturalproducts.

Soils are composed of four main ingredients.

These are:

Mineral matter Organic material Water Air

A soil good for growing most plants is composed of 45% minerals, 2.5% organic matter, 3.25%air and 4.25% water.e.g., (with sand, soil and clay).

SOIL FORMATION

The transformation of rock into soil is called as soil formation. Weathering and other erosionalagents break up the rocks and form the skeleton soil for soil formation. Soils are dynamic andchange over time. The process of formation of soil is called pedogenises. The first step information is weathering for the rocks. Plants, animals and human being all contribute in theweathering process. Mechanical or physical weathering involves breaking up of rocks byphysical or biological agents. Physical forces responsible for weathering are variation intemperature and frost action.

The formation of soils is helped by the following factors:

TEMPERATURE VARIATION:- Temperature variations take place during day and night and

also according to different seasons. Whenever there is rise in temperature, the rocks expand.When the temperature falls there is contraction. The temperature variation causes cracks in


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the rocks, which causes disintegration. Water enters into such cracks. During cold winternights, the water freezes and expands leading to widening of the cracks.

PLANTS, ANIMALS AND HUMAN BEINGS:- Plant roots penetrate deep into the rocks cracksin their search for water and nutrients. As the roots grow in size, the cracks widen further. The

rocks get split in this process. Burrowing by creatures like earthworms, rats and rodents createsmall tunnels that loosen the rocks. Human beings cause disintegration of rocks throughmining and quarrying operations.

CHEMICAL WEATHERING:- Some rocks contain large qualities of iron compounds,oxidation of iron makes the rock break very easily.

CARBONISATION:- Carbonization takes place in case of lime stone rocks. Carbondioxide in rainwater forms a weak solution of carbonic acid. This acid enters the rocks andreacts with calcium, which is a constituent of the limestone. The process of carbonizationleads to erosion in case of limestone.

SOLUTION:- The process of solution takes place in case of rock salt. Rocks salt dissolvesinwater to form solution. In this process, soluble constituent of the rock gets separated fromthe insoluble portion. Eventually, the rock breaks up.

FACTORS DETERMINIIG PROPERTIES OF SOIL:-

The properties of soil are the result of the following five key factors :

Parent material:- It is the basic material from which the soil is formed. The parent material

could be bed rock, organic material or deposit from water, glaciers, volcanoes or materialmoving down a slope. Climate:- Sunshine, water and precipitation and other environmental forces break down the

parent material or bed rock and affect the rate of soil formation. Organisms:- The dead remains of both plants and animals decompose in the earth and form

organic matter that enriches the soil. Topography:- Topography is important for climatic effects. Soil at the bottom of a hill will get

more water than soils on the slopes. Time:- Soil is formed during hundreds and thousand of years. This period varies according to

the nature of the parent rock, climate and vegetation. Soil Profile:- The face of the soil or the way it looks when you cut a section of it is called soil

profile. Soil Horizons:- The layers of which soil is made up of is called soil horizons. The soil horizons

vary in thickness. The main codes used to describe soil horizons are O, A, B, C, E and Rhorizons.

O Horizons:- It is the top layer of soil and is made up of organic matter . it contains leaves, logs,twigs, and remains of animals. O horizons are common in forested areas.

A Horizons:- It is the first mineral horizon of the soil and is known as top soil. This horizon is ideal foragricultural purposes.

B Horizons:- It is composed of parent material. It is also termed as subsoil. This horizon is rich iniron, aluminium and other soil constituents.


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C Horizon:- It is the bed rock only partly decomposed and in the initial stage of soil formation.

E Horizon:- It is named after the word alluvial , meaning that clay, iron, aluminium have beenleached from out of it. This horizon is commonly found in forests where coniferous trees grow.

R Horizon:- It represents a layer of rock that is sometimes found under the soil profile.

TYPES OF SOIL:-Soils are classified on the basis of the fertility, colour and texture. Some soils are Sedentary. Theseare the ones that lie at their place of origin. Some soils are transported soils. They are transported bywater and then deposited. Some soils are brought by glaciers. These are drift soils.

Indian soils are generally divided into the following types:

1. Alluvial Soils 2. Black Soils 3. Red Soils4. Laterite Soils 5. Mountain Soils 6. Desert Soils

1. Alluvial Soils:- These soils are the most important and widespread. It covers 24% (7.7 lakh km2)of the land area of India. They are confined mainly to the northern plains, coastal strips andChatisghar basin. They have been brought down and deposited by three great rivers Satluj, Gangaand Brahmaputra. This soil consists of varying proportions of sand, silt and clay. Alluvial sols aregenerally of two types Khadar and Bhangar. The Khaddar is more fertile than the bhangar. Thesesoils contain adequate potash, phosphoric acid and lime. However, they are deficient in organic andnitrogenous content. Alluvial soils support over half the Indian population.

2. Black Soils (Regur Soils):- These cover 5.18 lakh km2 soils are black in colour. These soils aremost typical of the Deccan trap region spread over northwest. These occur mainly in Maharashtra,western M.P and Gujarat. Black soils are also found in parts of Karnataks, Andhra Pradesh and TamilNadu. The black soils are made of extremely fine material. They are well known for their capacity tohold moisture. They are enriching in soil nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesiumcarbonate, potash and lime. They develop deep cracks in the field during hot dry weather. This helpsin their aeration. Hence, their self-ploughing ability. These soils are ideal for growing cotton.

3. Red Soils:- Red soils are formed in areas of igneous and metamorphic rocks. These havedeveloped as the result of weathering. Its red color is due to the presence of iron in it. They arehighly porous and fertile when they are fine grained and deep. They are deficient in phosphoric acid,organic matter and nitrogenous material region on all sides, and cover the eastern part of the

peninsular comprising Chotanagpur plateau, Orissa, Eastern Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, the Nilgiriand Tamil Nadu.

4. Laterite Soils:- The laterite soil is a result of intense leaching owing to heavy tropical rains. Theylack in elements of fertility and are normally of low value for crop production. They are red in colourand composed of little clay and much gravel of red sandstones. They are found in patches along theedge of the plateau in the east covering small parts of Tamil Nadu and Orissa and parts of Assamand Meghalaya. These soils support only pastures and scrub forests.

5. Mountain Soils:- These soils are found in the mountainous regions of the country particularly inMeghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern regions, Uttarankhand Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

These soils are characterized by deposition of organic materials. These soils are heterogeneous innature. These are sandy with gravel, porous and devoid of humus.


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6. Desert Soils:- These soils are found in the arid and semi-arid conditions in some areas, the soilscontain high percentage of soluble salt and lack of organic matter. With irrigation facilities, these soilsare found to yield good harvests. They are largely found in arid areas of Rajasthan, Punjab andHaryana.

SOIL TYPES OF KASHMIR:

There are mainly three soil types in Kashmir:

1. Mountain Soils:- These soils are fund in the mountainous tract between 7003500 metresabove sea level. These soils are shallow, immature and highly susceptible to erosion. These areacidic in charter, deficient in potash, phosphoric acid and lime. These soils are ideal forcultivation of maize, fruits, pulses and fodder.

2. Alluvial Soils:- The sediments brought down by rivers during floods and deposited on the

temporally submerged land are known as alluvial soils. These are the most productive soils ofJ&K. These are found in the Southern plains of Jammu, the valley bottom of Kashmir and in theshape of narrow tracts along the tributaries of Chenab and Jhelum rivers. This type of soil issuitable for the cultivation of Rice and Wheat.

3. Karewa Soils:- Karewas are lacustrene deposits found in the form of low flat mounds orplateaus. These are found in Kashmir Valley and Kishtawar. The karewa soils are generallypermeable and are hence poor for cultivation. Karewa as are suitable for growing saffron andfruits.

Land use pattern:- Land is governed by the nature of the available soil. Alluvial soils are mostsuited for agricultural crops. Black soils are ideal for cotton. Hill slopes are suited for teaplantation. Desert soils are least suited for growing crops. The use of chemical fertilizers hashowever widened the choice.

Land use in India:-According to the latest data available, the land use pattern in India is asUnder:

Soil Erosion:- The removal of soil form one place to another is called soil erosion. Soilerosion makes land unsuitable for cultivation, and the land so developed is called badlands.Soil erosion can become a menace as it does not allow farmers to grow crops.

Causes of Soil Erosion:-

Natural vegetation slows the wind speed and it cannot pick up loose particles from the toplayer. In the absence of vegetation, rain is able to easily break up the soil particles. Flowingwater carries with it the broken particles. Rivers changing theirs courses also cause soilerosion.

Types of Soil Erosion:

i) Sheet Erosion:- If the soil has no vegetation cover, the falling rain water washes the top soil down

the slopes leading to sheet erosion.


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ii) Gully Erosion:- If the rainfall is very heavy, the water runs fast and creates grooves or gullies.These gullies keep on getting deeper and deeper with time. This is called gully erosion. Thisproblem affects mainly the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat,Uttaranchal, Chatisghar and Jharkhand.

Methods of Control Erosion :

There are several methods of controlling soil erosion. These methods are:i) Terracing :- In this method, a series of wide steps are made along the slopes. This method iscommon in the hilly tracts and area where rice is grown.

ii) Strip Cropping:- In this method grasses are planted as cover crops alternated with cultivatedcrops. The cover crops help in holding running water and also prevent the top soil from beingstripped by wind.

iii) Plugging of Gullies:- In this process, trees are planted across the gullies.

iv) Planting Shelter Belts:- Wind erosion can be best checked by planting best of shrubs andtrees around the area to be protected . Vegetation checks the velocity of the wind and retardsthe movement of soil particles.

v) Contour Bunding:- In this method small bunds are erected around the fields. The bundshelp in retaining water and allowing it to soak in instead of running off. This stops erosion.

Land Degradation:-The depletion in the soil, when it cannot be used for agricultural purposes is called landdegradation. This degradation is caused by soil erosion, human-activities, over grazing by animals.

Net Shown area - 45.6%Forested Area - 22.8Pastures - 4.1%Tree crops + fallow land - 6.8%Cultivable waste land - 5.4%Not available for cultifation -15.3%

What is the land utilization pattern in India? 4 Total area of land in India is 3.28 million sq.km., but only 93 % is available for use. i)The Net sown area in India is 43.41% in 2002-03.

ii) The Forest share in the land use pattern is 22.57% in 2002-03. iii) Area under non agricultural use is 7.92% in 2002-03. iv) Permanent pastures and grazing land is 3.45 % only. v) Culturable Waste land is 4.41% in 2002-03. vi) Fallow Land : The share of the current fallow land is 7.03% in 2002-03. Fallow other than

current fallow is 3.82.

Deforestation and careless management of forests. There are several measures of controlling landdegradation. Soil erosion in hilly areas can be checked by construction of terraces for forming andplugging of gullies by construction of check dams. Afforestation can control soil erosion on slopes.Preparation of shelter belts of plants, control of overgrazing by animals and stabilization of sanddunes. Moisture conservation and weed control in agricultural lands, regularization of grazing and

proper management of waste lands and control of mining activities are some of the methods which


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can be sued to curb land degradation. Proper discharge and disposal of industrial wastes aftertreatment can reduce land degradation.

Q. How does industry cause degradation?

Human activities are a main cause of land degradation. Mining and industry are two importantactivities of human. The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry, and calciteand soapstone for ceramic industry, generates heavy amount of dust and releases it in theatmosphere. It settles down in the surroundings areas, affecting infiltration of water and cropcultivation. Industrial effluents and wastes have also become a major source of land degradation.

Conservation of land:- Preventing erosion of soil and making efforts to maintain its fertility is calledsoil conservation. The following steps need to be taken for the conservation of soil:1. Afforestation is an effective method of soil conservation. We must stop reckless felling of treesor clearing of forests.2. Strong embankments along rivers reduce soil erosion by the flooding river water.

3. Farms should be properly leveled.

Tick mark the most appropriate answer:1. One of the following is not an exhaustible resourcea) Forest b) Water c) Soil d) Metals2. _________ soil is found in the uplands with heavy rainfall.a) Alluvail b) Regar c) Red d) Laterite3. The type of soil mostly found in the deltas is calleda) Khadar b) Bangar c) Regar d) Sandy4. The total net sown area in India isa) 22.5% b) 46.6% c) 13.8% d) 4.8%

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India Land and the People