Notes RESOURCE AND DEVELOPMENT

 RESOURCE AND DEVELOPMENT

‘Resource’:

Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, is called a

resource. It should be technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally

acceptable. Only then, it can be termed as a ‘Resource’. Examples: minerals, forests, fossil

fuels etc.

Sustainable development:

Sustainable economic development means that ‘development should take place without

damaging the environment and development in the present should not compromise with the

needs of future generation’.

Land under important relief features in India:

Plains-43%, Mountains-30%, Plateaus-27%

Land Degradation:

Continuous use of land over a long period of time without taking appropriate measures to

conserve and manage it.

Measures to solve problem of land degradation:

Afforestation, proper management of grazing to control overgrazing planting of shelter belts

of plants,

stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes, control of mining activities, avoid

over-irrigation and overuse of fertilizers and pesticides;

Soil erosion:

The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is soil erosion. Reasons for

soil erosion include—

(a) Human activities like deforestation, over grazing construction, mining defective method of

fanning etc.;

(b) Natural forces like wind, glacier and water flow.

Types of erosion:

(a) Gully erosion. The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels

known as gullies.

This makes the land bad land and in the Chambal basin such land is known as ravines;

(b) Sheet erosion. When top soil over large area is washed away it is known as sheet

erosion.

Methods to prevent soil erosion in hilly area:

Ploughing along the contour lines-contour ploughing; terrace cultivation; strip farming and

shelter belts.

Soils and its types:

● Alluvial soils: Entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil. Also found in the eastern

coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the

Kaveri rivers. Fertile soil therefore, fit for agriculture purpose. Regions of alluvial soils are

intensively cultivated and densely populated. Rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime which

are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.

● Black soil: Black in colour and are also known as regur soils. Ideal for growing cotton and

is also known as black cotton soil.

Found in the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and

Chhattisgarh also along the Godavari and the Krishna valleys. Made up of extremely fine, i.e., clayey

material. Well-known for their capacity to hold moisture. Rich in calcium carbonate,

magnesium, potash and lime.

● Red and yellow soils: Found in the areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts

of the Deccan plateau.

Also found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of the middle Ganga plain and

along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats. Develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of

iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.

● Laterite soils: Develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall. Found in

Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha and Assam.

Suitable for cultivation with adequate doses

of manures and fertilizers. Low Humus content because decomposers, like bacteria, get

destroyed due to high temperature.

● Arid soils: Found in the western parts of Rajasthan. After proper irrigation these soils

become cultivable.

Lacks humus and moisture because dry climate, high temperature make evaporation faster.

Salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water.

● Forest soils: Found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are

available. Feature differs based on location. Loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse

grained in the upper slopes. Sil in the lower parts of the valleys particularly on the river

terraces and alluvial fans are fertile.