land resources.pdf

8/9/2019 land resources.pdf

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UNIT: I - LAND RESOURCES

CONTENT

Land as a resource, land use , land

utilization patterns

Land degradation and conservation

methods

Soil formation, soil types , causes of soil

degradation , soil conservation


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UNIT: I - LAND RESOURCES

INTRODUCTION

Earth is a unique planet in our solar system. It has many favourable conditions suitable for

the growth and development of humans, animals and plants.

Anything on earth that is necessary for human survival and satisfies human needs is called a

resource

Natural resources are the resources that we get from nature

Land, soil and water are the three important natural resources. The entire system depends on

these resources directly or indirectly.

All these resources are finite that is they are limited in supply. Therefore we need to utilise

these resources in the best possible way, ensuring maximum benefits with minimal waste. If

we overuse or misuse them, a time soon will come when life on earth will be impossible.

Let us see how these resources are distributed on the surface of the earth and their pattern of

use.

LAND RESOURCES

Land resources meet many human needs. In fact, they provide the base for life and are the

building blocks for development

Let us outline why land is considered such a major resource

Land is used to build homes , transportation lines and other requirements of a human

settlement

Agriculture, forestry, animal rearing, mining industrial and other economic activities

all develop on land, therefore, land yields food, raw materials and gives us a sourceof income

Land provides us with many scenic spots that humans utilise for recreation and

enjoyment.

Only 30 percent of the earths surface is land. Of this land, only a fraction is habitable by

humans, the rest is made of vast deserts, dense forests and rugged mountains. The rocky

slopes of the mountains , low-lying areas prone to flooding during rainy seasons, dry and

sandy desert areas, regions covered by continental and mountain glaciers and thick forested


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areas are generally sparsely populated or uninhabited . In fact 90 percent of the worlds

population lives on just 30 percent of the land area.

Explore some more........

30 % of the earths land is occupied by 90 % of its people. Can you think just where this is?

CLASSIFICATION OF LAND

Land can be classified in many ways

On the basis of relief as plains, plateaus, and mountains

On the basis of soil fertility as barren and fertile land

On the basis of development of that area as rural and urban land

On the basis of ownership of land as private land and community or government land.

On the basis of the use we put it to arable land (i.e., land which is suitable for crop

production), pasture land (land used for grazing animals) , forest (land connected with

forest), fallow (land which can be cultivated , but has been left unused for the season),

cultivable waste (land which can be cultivated but which has been lying fallow for

more than five years)

LAND USE

Land as we know is used for different purposes such as cultivation of crops, forestry, grazing

livestock, construction of buildings, houses, canals and for mining and manufacturing. The

different uses that land is put to are commonly referred to as land use.

The pattern of land use varies from one region to another. It may also vary within region

overtime. Increase in the population in many parts of the world has converted large parts ofthe forests into croplands, agricultural lands into urban residential areas, commercial

complexes and industrial areas.

Different factors are responsible for the changes in the land use pattern of a country or a

region at a given time. The land use, in any part of the world, depends on Physical factors

and Human factors


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PHYSICAL FACTORS

These also include aspects like

slope of the land,

elevation and extent of temperature and precipitation,

Presence or absence of soil cover,

availability of surface and ground water,

Nature of rocks and minerals.

PhysicalFactors

Topography

Soil

Distribution

of rocks

and

minerals

Water

Climate


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HUMAN FACTORS

GovernmenPolicy

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HumanFactors

Population

distribution

Developme

in ScienceTechnolog

Land Tenure

t

t


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After observing the table we understand the pattern of land utilization is different in different

parts of the world, if we observe Brazil has 66 percent of forest cover whereas India has 57

percent under cropland.

Now let us study the map below on land utilization in the world.

It is observed that fertile river valleys and plains are the most populated areas of the world

especially in tropical and subtropical regions of the world because they are suited to

agriculture. Over 66 percent of the world population is concentrated in subtropical and

multitude zones. 50 percent of the worlds population lives in the urban areas and the figure

is expected to go up.These urban areas need more land for settlements, setting up of industries and other purposes

which increase the pressure on the land. As a result, more and more agricultural land is

getting converted into urban colonies. The exploration of minerals and forest resources, oil

and natural gases, development of canal irrigation etc have dramatically affected land- use.


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LAND DEGRADATION

Land degradation refers to the

degradation results from unsu

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE

Overgrazing is the grazi

carrying capacity; the res

and water erosion. It is a s

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decline in productivity of cultivated land. G

itable and unscientific land use.

FOR LAND DEGRADATION

g of natural pastures at shocking intensities

lting decrease in the vegetation cover is a lea

ignificant factor in Afghanistan.

enerally, land

above the livestock

ding cause of wind


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Agricultural activities th

without adequate fallow p

a host of possible proble

They are a major factor in

Establishment ofindustri

INDUSTRIALIZATI

In recent years industria

pollution in several parts

Mining and industry are t

Mining leads to degradati

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at can cause land degradation include S

eriods, absence of soil conservation measure

ms arising from faulty planning or manage

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and in north-eastern

es and urbanization

N URBANIZA

effluents and wastes have become causes

f India.

o important activities of man which cause

n of land.

ifting cultivation

, fertilizer use, and

ment of irrigation.

parts of India.

ION

of land and water

egradation of land.


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With geometric precision, a

takes place on the Earth's su

has improved mining technol

The mineral processing l

soapstone for ceramic ind

atmosphere. It latter on se

water and crop cultivation

Deforestation and careles

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aryland mining operation works to extrac

rface, as seen here, as well as underground

gy, there are still human and environmental

ike grinding of lime stone for cement industr

stry generates heavy amount of dust and rel

tles down in the surrounding areas affecting

.

s management of forests.

t minerals. Mining

. While technology

costs involved.

y and calcite and

ases it in the

infiltration of


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Over irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to water logging, leading to

increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil.

Desertification - is the degradation of land in any dry lands. Caused by a variety of

factors, such as climate change and human activities, desertification is one of the most

significant global environmental problems.


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CAUSES FOR LAND DEGRADATION IN ASIA-PACIFIC


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CONSERVATION OF LA

With a land area of 29.2 perce

carefully and skilfully. We ne

be planned properly to provid

Suitable methods should be a

Check soil erosion

Check desertification

Control water logging of s

Aforestation

Land reclamation

Regulated use of chemica

Check on overgrazing

Reclaim wastelands so th

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D RESOURCES

nt all over the earth, we humans need to pla

ed to conserve our lands for the future gener

e best results.

opted:

oil

l pesticides and fertilizers

at they are bought back to other uses

our land use very

tions. Land must


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Increase productivity of t

manures and fertilizers, or

cropping.

Every bit of land must benatural environment. We

to badlands.

HUMUS represents the very

soils. It is renewed by leaf fall

SOIL RESOURCE

Of all the land resources, soil

areas could not exist without

us because:

Plant, animal and human l

Besides food, fibres that p

grown on soil.

It takes but a moment for u

processes of nature countles

weathering of rocks to form t

Once living organisms like

with the mineral matter in t

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e land with improved farming methods such

ganic farming, regulated irrigation, crop rota

utilised in the best possible way, with the leaust ensure that this delicate resource does n

OT ONLY A TREE IS CUT DOWN

ark organic material that is noticeable at the

and root decay.

is our prime resource. The plants that grow o

the thin, loose, surface layer that we call soi

ife, are directly dependent on soil.

rovide us with clothing and other products o

s to dig up a spade full of garden soil, b

s centuries to create it. The first step in s

he regolith- an accumulation of rock debris

osses and lichens become active in this l

e rock debris to form soil. Soils are ther

as balanced use of

tion and multiple

st harm to the ot get converted in

surface of most

n the Earths land

. It is important to

daily life are also

t it has taken the

oil building is the

above the bedrock.

yer, they combine

efore composed of


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minerals and organic substances. As the soil develops, more and more living organisms

especially plants grow on the upper layer and then die. They decompose within the soil and

layer of humus develops.

Soil contains not only organic but also inorganic substances. Organic materials include

plant and animal decay, which is the humus, the higher the amount of organic material or

humus, the higher is the fertility of the soil. Inorganic materials include varieties of salts

such as nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphorous, calcium, and iron derived

from the bedrock.

SOIL PROFILE

Suppose you cut a slice of soil like you would cut a

slice of a cake, you will see various layers in the

soil. These layers are called soil horizons. The

manner in which these horizons are arranged in soil

is known as a soil profile. The soil profile is

different in different places. The main layers or

horizons in the soil are

Top soil (A): This layer is dark in colour, has a

fine texture, has a high content of organic matter

(or humus) and is vital for plant growth.

Sub soil (B): This layer is just below the top

soil. It consists of sand, silt and clay, but has

only minor amounts of organic matter.

Parent material (C): This horizon usually

consists of unconsolidated rock a trial from which the A and B Layers have been formed.

This zone has no humus nor does it have any soil structures.

Bedrock (D): This layer lies at the depth below the C Horizon and consists of a solid

rock.

Soil formation is controlled by the following factors


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Nature of the pare

Soil. The inorganic

contained in the pare

will be sandy, while

Time: The nature of

have been exposed to

a soil takes to form, t

Topography: Third

hilly, the soil will

immature soils. Low

These areas have a

about chemical chan

Climate: Developin

moisture influence t

the rate of soil for

influenced by clima

contribute to the orga

NATURE OF

THE PARENT

ROCK

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t rock: The parent rock determines the basi

elements and minerals a soil contains will

nt rock. For example, if sandstone was the p

hale gives rise to clayey soil.

the soil depends on the length of time that t

weathering and have supported vegetation.

he more mature it will be.

factor influencing soil formation is the topog

e washed down as fast as it forms. Suc

flat plains in contrast, promote soil formatio

thick, mature soil cover; a good drainage

es in the soil.

g soils are influenced most by climate.

e rate of physical and chemical weatherin

ation. Decomposition of organic matter

e .The climate also dictates the kind of v

nic constituents of the soil.

Factors affecting soil formation

TIME TOPOGRAPHY CLIMATE

c characteristics of

e similar to those

arent rock, the soil

he parent materials

he longer the time

aphy. If the land is

areas have thin,

and development.

system also brings

Temperature and

and so determine

n the soil is also

egetation that will

LIVING

ORGANISMS


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Living organisms: like earthworms, are important in aerating the soil they burrow

through it. Roots of plants also aerate the soil, while holding it in place thereby

checking soil erosion.

SOIL TYPES

Soils are classified on the basis of colour, texture, fertility, mineral content, etc. Climate and

vegetation mainly determine the

distribution of soil types in the

world.

Regions of Perpetual snow

and ice are characterised by

infertile tundra soils. The

frozen subsoil makes the

topsoil shallow and poorly

drained.

South of the tundra , in the cool , humid coniferous forest belt , the needles from the

trees fall to the ground and decay slowly to create an acidic , greyish soil, known as

PODSOLS orPODZOL , Russian for alkaline ashes, they become fertile with careful

management .

In the warm temperate lands with more humid climates, grey, brown, forest pod sol soils

develop, these are fertile soils

Red and yellow pod sol soils are found in milder climates. They have limited matter and

are less fertile.

Prairie soils are blackened by the mass of grass roots and are called black earths

orChernozems in the Russian steppes. They are extremely fertile.

Soils are called Latsols or laterites occur in the tropics and subtropics, where they are

high temperatures and heavy rains. Iron in these soils causes it to have a red or yellow

colour.

Sandy desert soils are typical of arid regions. Containing little organic matter, they are

light yellowish and not fertile.

Mountain and hilly areas show no fixed pattern of soil. Here soils are generally thin and

immature.


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INDIA has a variety of soil types due to the varied topography, rainfall and differences in

parent rock. In India we have alluvialsoil, Red soil, Laterite soils Black soil desert soil and

mountain soil. The map illustrates where each is found.

D0 YOU KNOW?

The Alluvial soil is the most fertile soil in the world.

SOIL DEGRADATION

Soil degradation is an evolution that occurs when soil losses its quality and productivity.

Human activities and natural disasters are primarily responsible for soil degradation. The

main cause of soil degradation is soil erosion.

Soil erosion is the removal of soil by running water, wind or other agents of erosion. It

represents the physical loss of a layer of soil. Soil exhaustion or soil impoverishment, on the

other hand, is the deterioration of the soil that becomes deficient in nutrients due to improper

cultivation techniques. Running water is a major agent of soil erosion, especially on slopes,

or when rivers are in flood. Wind is also a powerful erosion agent, as it erodes soil which is

dry, loose and with no vegetation cover.


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Over cropping, multi-cropping, shifting agriculture, over grazing, deforestation, slope

cultivation, dry farming and over irrigation all exhaust the soil of its potential to yield a

good crop.

SOIL CONSERVATION

Soil conservation is an effort made by humans to prevent soil erosion and thereby retain the

soil fertility of the soil. Soil conservation is possible if it is managed properly using soil

management techniques and adopting the following measures:

Contour ploughing ploughing at right angles to the slope, following the contour of

land, prevents excessive soil loss and reduces run off by water.

Contour ploughing Terracing

Windbreaks and Shelterbelts Strip farming

Aforestation


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Terracing: slopes cut into series of step like terraces which allow the soil to remain

stable and retain water. This is especially important in mountainous areas

Strip farming crops may be cultivated in alternate strips , some of which may be kept

fallow while others are sown with different crops .as these crops ripen at different times,

there is no time when the entire area is left bare or exposed to the agents of erosion

Crop rotation the same crop must not be grown in a field for more than two years as it

exhausts soil fertility. It is best to alternate nitrogen fixing crops with grains and fibre

crops so that fertility is returned to the soil.

Wind breaks and Shelterbelts - tall growing crops and trees planted on the margins of

fields act as wind breaks and help to slow runoff by water. Earth bunds or

embankments also help check soil erosion

Aforestation areas which are left bare experience maximum soil erosion. Aforestation

and reforestation schemes prevent this from happening as tree roots bind soil together

and protect it. Trees absorb the impact of falling rain

Overgrazing by animals this must be checked and grass should be allowed to regrow

so that it protects the topsoil from wind and rain

Use of fertilizers continuous cultivation exhausts soil nutrients. Soil fertility must be

maintained by the application of manures or fertilisers. Phosphates, potash and nitratesmust be added to the soil. However , a balance of organic and chemical fertilizers must

be used, as excessive use of chemical fertilisers damages the soil, and gets absorbed

into the crops

Proper water management and balanced irrigation techniques allow even marginal

and useless dry lands to be bought under cultivation.


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WORKSHEET 1

Class : VII Section : ___

1 What percentage of the earths surface is land?

a) 50 % b) 30% c) 60% d) 40%

2 Land is generally used for

a) Cultivation of crops

b) Construction of buildings

c) Grazing of livestock

d) All of these

3 Land which can be cultivated ,but has been left unused for the season is called

a) Fallow b) cultivable waste c) arable land d) pasture land

4 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

a) Development b) resource c) planning d) product

5 Explain the term land use or land use pattern.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

6 Land is considered to be an important and limited resource. Justify

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

7 State the physical factors that determine the changes in the land use pattern of a country.

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________


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8 How does mining play an important role in determining the land use pattern of a region?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

9 Draw a rough plan of your immediate neighbourhood. Try to depict through it the land

use pattern of your area (e.g. parks. Shopping centres, roads, dwellings )

10 Study the above given diagram and answer the following question.

10.1.Write any two categories under which the land use area has increased.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

10.2.What do you think is the cause for the increase?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

10.3.Write two categories under which the land use area has decreased. Mention the cause

for the decrease.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

11. Study the data and answer the given questions


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11.1Name the country which has the highest percentage of cropland. Why?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

11.2 Which country has the lowest percentage of cropland? Why

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

11.3Which country has the highest percentage of forests? Why?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

12 Identify the type of land use pattern shown in the pictures given below marked by

A,B,C,D,E and F.


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13. The following picture shows different types of land use

On the basis of your understanding mention few benefits and harmful effects for each of

these types of land use.


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Worksheet No-2

Name :

1 Which of the following factors are responsible for land degradationa) Excessive exploitation of land

b) Deforestation

c) Untreated industrial effluents

d) All of the above

2 Some of the common methods of land conservation are

a) Deforestation

b) Uncontrolled use of chemical pesticides

c) Controlled mining

d) Overgrazing

3 Which agent is responsible for maximum land degradation?

a) Wind b) water c) glaciers d) overgrazing

4 The factor responsible for maximum land degradation is

a) Human activities b) Wind c) Salinity d) Soil erosion

5 land degradation can be controlled by

a) Deforestation

b) Checking soil erosion

c) Desertification

d) None of the above

6 Explain the following :

6.1.Land degradation.

________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________


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WORK SHEET_3

1 The layer of soil that has the maximum amount of humus is called.

a) Parent material

b) The bedrock

c) Top- soil

d) The subsoil

2 Soil is formed by the process of

a) Denudation

b) Deposition

c) Weathering

d) Erosion

3 Which of the following is an important factor in the formation of soil?

i) Relief

ii) Parent rock

iii) Climate

iv) Vegetationa) Only i) and ii)

b) Only ii) and iii)

c) Only iii) and iv)

d) All of the above.

4 Time taken for the formation of one cm. of soil is

a) One year

b) Hundred years

c) Five hundred years

d) Thousands of years


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5 Soil type that occurs in the tropical area is known as

a) Latsols or laterites

b) Prairie soils

c) Blackearths

d) Podzol

6 Explain the following

Soil profile

________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

7 Soil is considered to be a primary resource. Explain.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

8 Mention the criteria on the basis of which soils can be classified in the Indian

subcontinent._________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

9 Mention the types of soil found in our country India.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________


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10 Complete the following

11 Complete the following ( an

Organic

substances

found in soi

Inorganic

substances

found in soi

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y four factors responsible for soil formation)

l

l

factors

affecting

soil

formation


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12 What is hummus and why is it useful for soil?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

13 O, A, B C and R signify different layers of soil. Identify.


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14 On the political map of Indi

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a identify the soil types in I, II, III, IV.


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WORKSHEET 4

Class : VII Div :

1. Terrace farming and contour ploughing are practiced toa) Bring rainfall

b) Conserve soil

c) Erode soil

d) Rear animals

2. Carrying away of the top soil by wind , water or human action

a) Soil degradation

b) Soil erosion

c) Soil conservation

d) Land degradation

3. Contour ploughing and terrace cultivation is common along

a) River valleys

b) Steep slopes

c) Deltas

d) Plains

4. Carrying away of the top soil by wind , water or human action

e) Soil degradation

f) Soil erosion

g) Soil conservation

h) Land degradation

5. State in detail some factors that exhaust the soil of its potential to yield a good crop.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________


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6. When does degradation of soil occur?

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

7. How does aforestation help control soil erosion?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

8. Distinguish between contour ploughing and terrace farming

9. Soil erosion has become a pressing problem in the world. Justify

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________


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10. Observe the picture and answer the questions that follow

What does the picture depict?

_________________________________________________________________________

11. How does this method help in conserving the soil on a large scale?

_________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

12. Observe the given picture and answer the questions that follow

12.1.Which type of soil erosion is depicted in the picture?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________


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12.2.Name the agent responsible for this type of soil erosion.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

12.3.What is the name given to these lands that are extensively eroded?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

RESOURCES

1. Frank CCE middle school by Kripal Singh

2. Time space and people by Chitra Srnivas

3. Getting ahead with social science by Vijay Sridharan

4. The unique planet by llela Sachdev

5. Cornerstone integrated social science by Mrs. Kanchan sood , Mrs. Meera Sharma

6. Gosse geography in focus by Widdowson smith knill

Links: http://moef.nic.in/soer/2001/ind_land.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_degradation

http://www.pon.nic.in/citizen/science/ppcc-new/ppcc/chapter7.pdf

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