Class X- GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER -1 Resources and Development

RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER-1 CLASS-X Q1. Explain the following diagram. Ans. (i) Human Being interact with nature. (ii) They use technology to transform material Available in our environment into resources. (iii) They create institutions to accelerate their Resource development. Q2.Differentiate between Renewable and Non-Renewable resources. RENEWABLE NON- RENEWABLE 1.They can be renewed or reproduced. 1. They occur over a very long geological time. 2. They can be used over the years again and again. 2. They get exhausted once used and cannot be used again. 3. They are abundantly available. 3. They are available in limited quantity. 4. For eg. Solar and wind energy, water , forests and wildlife etc. 4. For eg. Fossil Fuels and other minerals. Q3. What problems do human beings face with the indiscriminate use of resources? Ans. (i) Depletion of resources for resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals. (ii) Accumulation of resources in few hands leading to the division of society into two segments – haves and haves not. Q4. Classify the resources on the basis of status of development. Ans. Resources on the basis of status of development are:- (i) Potential Resources: (a) Resources which are found in a region but have not been utilized. (b) Western parts of the India particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat have potential for the development of wind and solar energy, but so far these have not been developed properly. (ii) Developed resources: (a) Reserves which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been determined for utilization. (b) The development of resources depends on technology and level of their feasibility. (iii) Stocks: (a) Materials in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but human beings do not have the appropriate technology to access them. (b) Water is a compound of two inflammable gases and oxygen, which can be used as a rich source of energy. But we do not have the required technical ‘know-how’ to use them for this purpose, hence, it can be considered as stock. (iv) Reserves: (a) It can be put into use with help of existing technical ‘know-how’ but their use has not been started. (b) These can be used for creating future requirement. (c) Use of rivers water for hydro-electricity. Q5. What is the need of resource planning in India? Explain your answers with the help of examples. Ans. Resources planning is necessary in a country like India, which has enormous diversity in the availability of resource. Needs: (i) There are regions which are rich in certain types of resource but are deficient in some other resources. (ii) There are some regions which are self-sufficient and there are some regions which have acute shortage of some vital resources. Examples: (i)The state of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and M.P. are rich in minerals and coal deposits. (ii) Arunachal Pradesh has abundant water resources but lacks in infrastructural development. (iii) The state of Rajasthan has enough solar energy and wind energy but lacks in water resources. (iv) The cold desert of Ladakh has very rich cultural heritage but is deficient in water, infrastructures and some vital minerals. This calls for a balanced resource planning at the national, state, regional and local levels. Q6. What is the need of equitable distribution of resources? Ans. (i) It is essential for a sustained quality of life and global piece. (ii) If the present trend of resource depletion by a few individuals and countries continues, the future of our planet is in danger. (iii) Therefore, resource planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life. Q7. What were Gandhi’s views on conservation? Ans. Gandhiji were very apt in voicing his concern about resource conservation. (i) He said there is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed. (ii) He placed the greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative nature of the modern technology as the root cause for the resource depletion at the global level. (iii)He was against the mass production and wanted to replace it with the production by the masses. Q8. What is the Importance of land? Ans. We live on land , perform different economic activities on land and we use it in different ways: (i) Land is a natural resource of utmost importance. (ii) It supports natural vegetation, wildlife, human life and transport and communication systems. Q9. “India is a land of varied relief features”, elucidate your answers with the importance of these features. Ans. India’s main relief features are as following: (i) Plains: About 43% of the land area is plains. It provides facilities for agriculture and industry. (ii)Mountains: It accounts for 30%of the total surface area of the country. It ensures perennial flow of some rivers and also provides facilities for tourism and ecological aspects. (iii)Plateaus: About 27% of the area of the country is the plateau region. It possess rich reserves of minerals fossil fuels and forests. Q10.What efforts were made for resource planning in the first five year plan? Ans. (i) The availability of resources is a necessary condition for the development of any region . But we are still managing the cattle population in India by preparing fodder for them. (ii) There are many regions in our country which are economically backward. Whereas there are some regions which have poor resource base but economically developed . (iii) Resources can contribute to development only when they are accompanied by appropriate technological development. (iv) In India development or resource development resource development does not only mean the availability of resource but also the technology, quality of human resources and the historical experiences of the people. Q11.Describe the land use pattern of India. Ans. (i) Pasture Land:The land under permanent pasture is very low and is further decreasing .But we are still managing the cattle population in India by preparing fodder for them. (ii) Net Sown Area (NSA): It is about 54% in India. It includes the current fallow land,in which the cost of cultivation is high due to its poor quality . The pattern of net sown area varies from region to region. It is about 80% of the total area in Punjab and Haryana and less than 10% in Arunachal Pradesh , Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar islands. (iii) Forest Area: It is far lower than desired 33% of the geographical area. It is considered essential for maintaining ecological balance. like settlements, roads, railways, industry, etc. Q12. What are the causes of land degradation? What are the ways to solve this problem? Ans. Causes of land degradation : (i) Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is done, leaving deep scars of over burdening .In states like Odisha, Jharkhand ,M.P. ,Chhattisgarh ,deforestation due to mining have caused severe land degradation. (ii) Over grazing in states like Gujarat , Rajasthan , M.P. , and Maharashtra is one of the main reasons behind land degradation. (iii) Mineral Processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry and calcite and soapstone for ceramic industry generate huge quantities of dust in the atmosphere . It stops the infiltration of water in the soil. (iv) Industrial effluents as wastes have become a major source of land pollution in many parts of our country. (v) Over- Irrigation and water logging leads to increased salinity and alkalinity in the states of Punjab , Haryana , western U.P. , leading to land degradation. Ways to check the Land Degradation: (i) Afforestation and Proper Management of grazing can help to check land degradation. (ii) Planting of shelter belts help in checking the sand causing land degradation near the deserts. (iii) Over grazing can be avoided and can be checked. (iv) Stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes can also check the land degradation. (v) Proper management of Waste land can be done. (vi) Control on mining activities, so that mining should not affect the degradation of the land by refilling the scars on it. (vii) Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land and water degradation in industrial areas. Q13. What is soil erosion? What are the main causes of soil erosion? Ans. Denudation of soil cover and subsequent washing down is known as soil erosion. Causes of soil erosion: (i) Due to human activities like deforestation, over grazing, construction and mining ,etc. (ii) Natural forces like wind, glacier and water leads to soil erosion. (iii) The running water cuts through clayey soils and make deep channels known as gullies. The land becomes unfit for cultivation, this process is called gully erosion and the land is called bad land and ravines in Chambal basin. (iv)Sometimes water flows as sheet over large areas down a slope. It leads to washing of top soil. This process is called sleet erosion. (v) Wind blows loose soil off flat or sloping land, called as wind erosion. (vi) Soil erosion is also caused due to defective methods of farming. Q14.What are the various methods of soil conservation? Ans. Methods of soil conservation: (i) Contour Ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can check the flow of water down the slopes. It is called contour ploughing. It can be practiced on the hills. (ii)Terrace cultivation: Steps can be cut on the slopes making terraces. It restricts soil erosion. It is practiced in western and central Himalayas . (iii)Strip Cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops. This breaks up the forces of wind. This method is called Strip Cropping. (iv)Planting of shelter belts: Planting lines of trees to create shelter also checks the soil erosion. Rows of such trees are called Shelter Belts. These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the stabilization of sand dunes and in stabilizing desert in western India. Q15.Describe features of alluvial and black soils. Name the places where these are found in India. Ans. These features of the soils are explained as follow: (i) Alluvial Soils:(a)Features: (i) The alluvial soils consist of sand , silt and clay. (ii) These soils contain adequate proportion of potash , phosphoric acid and lime. (iii) These soils are ideal for the growth of sugarcane , paddy , wheat , and other cereal crops.(iv) Soils in the drier areas are more alkaline and need proper treatment and irrigation. (v) These soils are of two types- old alluvial soil known as bangar and new alluvial soil known as khadar. (b) Places: These soils are found in the entire northern plains , Rajasthan , Gujarat ( a narrow corridor) , eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi , the Godavari , the Krishna and the Kaveri Rivers. (ii) Black soils:(a) Features: (i) These soils are black in colour. (ii) These soils are known as regur soils also. (iii) They can hold the moisture. (iv) They are made of clayey material. (v) these soils are ideal for growing cotton and is known as black cotton soil. (vi) they are rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium , potash and lime. (vii) They are poor in phosphoric contents. (viii) They develop deep cracks during hot weather. (ix) These soils become sticky when wet. (b) Places: It is found in Deccan trap( basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows. They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra ,Saurashtra , malwa , Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh , and extent in the south east direction along the Godavari and Krishna valleys. Q16. Describe the features of red and yellow soils and laterite soils, Mention the places where they are found in India. Ans. (i) Red and yellow soils: (a) Features (i) These soils develop reddish colour due to the diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks. It looks yellow in hydrated form. (ii) They are highly porous and fertile whet they are finely grained and deep. (b) Places: They are found in parts of Odisha ,Chattisgarh , southern parts of the middle Ganga plain and along the piedmont zone of western ghats. (ii) Laterite soils: (a) Features (i) Humus content of the soil is slow. (ii) They lack in elements of fertility and are low value for crop production. (iii) They are composed of little clay and much gravel of red sandstones. (iv) They are suitable for cultivation with manures and fertilization. (b) Places : They are found in Karnataka, Kerala , Tamil Nadu , Madhya Pradesh and hilly areas of Odisha and Assam. Q17.Describe the features of arid soils and Forest areas. Mention the places where they are found in India. Ans. (i)Arid Soils: (a) Features (i) They range from red to brown in colour. (ii) They are generally sandy in texture and saline in nature. (iii) In some areas , the soil contains high percentage of soluble salts and lacks in organic matter.(iv) Soil lacks in humus and moisture. (v) The lower horizons of this soil are occupied by kankar. (vi) These soils can become cultivable if irrigation facilities are made available as has been in the case of western Rajasthan. (b) Places: These soils are found in arid areas of Rajasthan , Punjab and Haryana. (ii) Forest Soils:(a) Features: (i) They are found in mountainous area. (ii) They are loamy and silty in valley slides and coarse grained in the upper slopes.(iii) In the snow covered areas of the Himalayas they are acidic with low humus content. Q18. Give the importance of soil. Explain factors responsible for soil formation. Ans. (a) Soil is the most renewable natural resource. It is the medium of plant growth and supports different types of living organisms on the Earth . (b) The soil is a living system .It takes millions to form soil up t a few centimeter in depth. Important factors responsible for the soil formation are as follows: (i) Rocks: Parent rock or the bed rock on which the soils are formed , disintegrate and decompose under the process of weathering and erosion. (ii) Climate: It determines the rate of weathering and the type of vegetation. (iii) Slope: It decides the accumulation of soils. (iv) 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. (v) Chemical and organic changes too play their in the formation of soil. Q19. Classify the resources on the basis of ownership. Ans. On the basis of ownership resources are classified as: (i) Individual resources. (a) They are owned privately by individuals. (b) Many farmers own land which is allotted to them by the government against the payment of resource. (c) Plantation, pasture lands, etc., are some examples of individual resource. (ii) Community owned resources. (a) These resources are used by all the members of the community. (b) Village commons, burial grounds, public parks, picnic spot, playground, etc. are accessible to all the people living there. (iii) National resources: (a) Technically all the resources in a nation belong to the nation . (b) All the minerals , water resources, forests, wildlife, land within the political boundaries are all national resources. (iv) International Resources: (a) These are international institutions which regulate some resources. (b) The oceanic resources beyond the 200 nmi of the exclusive economic zone belong to open ocean and no individual country can utilize these without the concurrence of these international institutions.