RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT - Q&A
1. Multiple choice questions.
(i) Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?
(a) Intensive cultivation
(b) Deforestation
(c) Over irrigation
(d) Overgrazing
Answer: (c) Over irrigation
Explanation: In states like Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, over-irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to water logging, which leads to an increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
(ii) In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised?
(a) Punjab
(b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh
(c) Haryana
(d) Uttarakhand
Answer: (d) Uttarakhand
Explanation: Terrace cultivation is a method used to prevent soil erosion in hilly and mountainous regions. Uttarakhand is a state located in the Himalayas where such farming techniques are developed to cut steps on the slopes.
(iii) In which of the following states black soil is predominantly found?
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Jharkhand
Answer: (b) Maharashtra
Explanation: Black soil (Regur soil) is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region. It covers the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown in it.
Answer:
Three states having black soil are Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
The crop mainly grown in it is Cotton. Black soil is also famously known as "black cotton soil" because it is ideal for growing cotton.
(ii) What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give three main features of this type of soil.
Answer:
Alluvial Soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast (such as the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri deltas).
Three main features:
- It is very fertile and ideal for growing sugarcane, paddy, wheat, and pulses.
- It consists of various proportions of sand, silt, and clay.
- It contains an adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid, and lime.
(iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?
Answer:
The following steps can be taken to control soil erosion in hilly areas:
- Contour Ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water down the slopes.
- Terrace Cultivation: Cutting out steps on slopes to make terraces restricts erosion.
- Strip Cropping: Growing strips of grass between crops to break up the force of the wind.
3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.
(i) Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-61?
Answer:
Land use pattern in India: India's land use is determined by physical factors (topography, climate, soil) and human factors (population density, technology).
- Net Sown Area: This is the largest category but varies greatly between states (e.g., over 80% in Punjab vs. less than 10% in Arunachal Pradesh).
- Forests: Forest cover is lower than the desired 33% outlined in the National Forest Policy (1952).
- Waste Land & Non-Agricultural Use: This includes rocky/arid areas and land used for settlements, roads, and industries.
Why forest area has not increased much:
Although the area under forests has increased slightly, it has not increased significantly since 1960-61 because of the increasing demand for land for non-agricultural uses. As the population increased, more land was diverted for building infrastructure like roads, industries, and housing (urbanization). Additionally, the expansion of agriculture to feed the growing population limited the scope for converting land into forests.
(ii) How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?
Answer:
Technical and economic development has led to increased consumption of resources in the following ways:
- Exploitation of Resources: Technology allows human beings to convert natural materials into usable resources. Higher technological development provides the equipment and methods to mine, extract, and utilize resources on a larger scale (e.g., drilling for oil or mining deep minerals).
- Increased Needs and Consumerism: Economic development improves the standard of living. As people become wealthier, their consumption patterns change, leading to a higher demand for various goods, energy, and comfort, which requires more resources to produce.
- Urbanization: Development leads to urbanization, which demands massive resources for construction, transport, and water supply.
- Inefficient Use: Sometimes, advanced technology (like tube wells for irrigation) leads to over-exploitation of resources (like groundwater) if not managed sustainably.
PROJECT/ACTIVITY
4. Solve the puzzle by following your search horizontally and vertically to find the hidden answers.
(i) Natural endowments in the form of land, water, vegetation and minerals.
Answer: RESOURCES
(ii) A type of non-renewable resource.
Answer: MINERALS
(iii) Soil with high water retaining capacity.
Answer: BLACK
(iv) Intensively leached soils of the monsoon climate.
Answer: LATERITE
(v) Plantation of trees on a large scale to check soil erosion.
Answer: AFFORESTATION
(vi) The Great Plains of India are made up of these soils.
Answer: ALLUVIAL