This MCQ module is based on: Land Resources, Soil Types & Conservation Class 10 NCERT Geography Ch 1 Part 2
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Land Resources, Soil Types & Conservation Class 10 NCERT Geography Ch 1 Part 2
🎓 Class 10
Social Science
CBSE
Theory
Ch 1 — Resources and Development
⏱ ~15 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]
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Land Resources, Soil Types & Conservation
NCERT Social Science — Contemporary India II | Resources and Development
What Are the Major Land Resources in India?
Land is a natural resource of the highest importance. It supports vegetation, wildlife, human habitation, economic activities, and communication networks. Since land? is a finite asset, it is essential that we utilise it wisely through careful planning.
India possesses a diverse range of relief features. The country's total geographical area is approximately 3.28 million sq km, though land use data is available for only about 93 per cent of this area.
India: Land Under Major Relief Features
L4 AnalyseFigure: Distribution of India's land area by relief type
Plains (43%)
Provide ideal conditions for agriculture and industrial development. The Indo-Gangetic plain is the most productive agricultural belt.
Mountains (30%)
Ensure perennial river flow, support tourism, and maintain ecological balance. The Himalayas are a vital water source.
Plateaus (27%)
Rich reserves of minerals, fossil fuels, and forests. The Deccan Plateau is particularly mineral-rich.
How Is Land Utilised in India? Land Use Pattern Explained
Land resources in India are categorised into five major utilisation types:
| # | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forests | Land under forest cover, ideally 33% of geographical area as per the 1952 National Forest Policy. |
| 2 | Land Not Available for Cultivation | Includes barren/waste land and land used for buildings, roads, and factories. |
| 3 | Other Uncultivated Land | Permanent pastures, land under miscellaneous tree crops, and culturable waste land (uncultivated for 5+ years). |
| 4 | Fallow Lands | Current fallow (idle for one year or less) and other fallow (idle for 1–5 years). |
| 5 | Net Sown Area | Physical extent of land on which crops are actually sown and harvested. |
Definition
Gross Cropped Area: The total area sown more than once during an agricultural year, added to the net sown area. It reflects the intensity of cropping in a region.
Land Use Pattern in India (2019–20)
L4 AnalyseSource: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, 2023
The use of land is shaped by both physical factors (topography, climate, soil type) and human factors (population density, technology, culture). The net sown area? varies dramatically across states — over 80% in Punjab and Haryana but under 10% in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Manipur.
Key Fact
Forest area in India remains far below the desired 33% target set by the National Forest Policy of 1952. This shortfall is particularly concerning because millions of people living on the fringes of forests depend on them for their livelihoods. The area under permanent pastures has also declined over the decades, raising questions about how India sustains its large livestock population.
LET'S EXPLORE — Land Use Comparison
L4 Analyse
Compare the land use data from 1960–61 with 2019–20 (from the NCERT pie charts). Why has the net sown area and land under forests changed only marginally over nearly six decades? What factors might explain this pattern?
Guidance
The marginal change reflects competing pressures — while afforestation programmes have added forest cover, simultaneous deforestation for agriculture, urbanisation, and industry has offset gains. Similarly, net sown area has not expanded much because the easily cultivable land has already been brought under the plough. Any new additions come from fallow lands, while urban expansion simultaneously claims agricultural land. The stagnation points to the finite nature of land as a resource.
What Causes Land Degradation and How to Conserve Land?
We share our land with past and future generations. About 95% of our fundamental needs — food, shelter, clothing — come from land. However, human activities have accelerated land degradation? significantly beyond the pace of natural forces.
Causes of Land Degradation
| Cause | Affected States / Regions | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Mining and quarrying | Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha | Deep scars, over-burdening, deforestation around mining sites |
| Overgrazing | Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra | Removal of vegetation cover, soil exposed to erosion |
| Over-irrigation | Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh | Water-logging, increased soil salinity and alkalinity |
| Industrial pollution | Various industrial areas | Mineral processing dust retards water infiltration; effluents pollute land and water |
Conservation Measures
Afforestation
Planting trees on a large scale to stabilise soil, reduce erosion, and restore degraded land. Shelter belts help stabilise sand dunes in arid regions.
Grazing Management
Controlling overgrazing through regulated pasture use and growing thorny bushes in arid areas to check land degradation.
Waste Management
Proper treatment and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes to prevent contamination of land and water resources.
Mining Regulation
Controlling mining activities and rehabilitating abandoned mine sites to prevent further degradation.
What Are the Major Soil Types in India?
Soil? is the most important renewable natural resource. It serves as the medium for plant growth and supports a vast array of living organisms. Soil formation is an extremely slow process — it takes millions of years to develop just a few centimetres of soil depth.
Key factors in soil formation include relief, parent rock, climate, vegetation, biological organisms, and time. Various natural forces — temperature changes, running water, wind, glaciers, and decomposer activity — all contribute to the process.
Classification of Soils in India
India's diverse relief features, landforms, climatic conditions, and vegetation types have produced several distinct soil types:
| Soil Type | Key Features | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Alluvial Soil | Most widespread; contains sand, silt, clay; rich in potash, phosphoric acid, lime. Two types: Bangar (old) and Khadar (new, more fertile). | Northern plains (Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra systems), Rajasthan, Gujarat, eastern coastal deltas |
| Black Soil (Regur) | Extremely fine clayey texture; excellent moisture retention; rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, lime; poor in phosphoric content. Develops deep cracks in hot weather. | Deccan Plateau — Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, along Godavari and Krishna valleys |
| Red & Yellow Soil | Develops on crystalline igneous rocks; reddish colour from iron diffusion; yellow when hydrated. | Eastern and southern Deccan Plateau, parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern middle Ganga plain, Western Ghats piedmont |
| Laterite Soil | Formed by intense leaching in wet-dry tropical climate; deep, acidic (pH<6); deficient in plant nutrients. Good for tea, coffee, and cashew nut cultivation after conservation. | Southern states, Western Ghats (Maharashtra), Odisha, parts of West Bengal, North-east regions |
| Arid Soil | Sandy texture, saline; lacks humus and moisture; Kankar (calcium) layer at lower horizons restricts water infiltration. Cultivable after proper irrigation. | Western Rajasthan and other arid regions |
| Forest Soil | Texture varies with altitude — loamy in valleys, coarse-grained on upper slopes; acidic with low humus in snow-covered areas; fertile in lower valleys. | Hilly and mountainous areas with sufficient rainfall |
MAP WORK — Soil Distribution
L3 Apply
On an outline map of India, mark and label the approximate distribution zones of the six major soil types discussed above. Use different colours or patterns for each soil type. Also indicate the Deccan Trap region where black soil is predominantly found.
Guidance
Alluvial soils cover the northern plains from Punjab to Assam and the eastern coastal deltas. Black soil occupies the Deccan Plateau (Maharashtra, MP, parts of Gujarat). Red and yellow soils appear in the eastern and southern Deccan. Laterite soils fringe the Western Ghats and parts of the northeast. Arid soils dominate western Rajasthan. Forest soils are found in the Himalayan and other mountainous regions. Remember that soil distribution follows the underlying geological and climatic patterns.
How Does Soil Erosion Occur and What Are Conservation Methods?
Definition
Soil Erosion: The removal of the topsoil layer and subsequent washing down or blowing away of soil material. While soil formation and erosion normally maintain a balance, human activities like deforestation, overgrazing, and construction can severely accelerate erosion.
Types of Soil Erosion
Gully Erosion
Running water carves deep channels (gullies) through clayey soils, creating bad lands unfit for farming. The Chambal basin ravines are a classic example.
Sheet Erosion
Water flows as a thin sheet over large sloping areas, washing away the topsoil uniformly. Less visible but equally destructive over time.
Wind Erosion
Wind blows loose soil off flat or sloping land, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where vegetation cover is sparse.
Soil Conservation Methods
| Method | How It Works | Where Used |
|---|---|---|
| Contour Ploughing | Ploughing along contour lines to slow the downhill flow of water | Hilly agricultural areas |
| Terrace Farming | Cutting step-like terraces on slopes to restrict erosion and allow cultivation | Western and central Himalayas |
| Strip Cropping | Dividing large fields into strips with grass grown between crop rows to break wind force | Flat and gently sloping areas |
| Shelter Belts | Planting rows of trees to create wind barriers that stabilise sand dunes | Western India (Rajasthan desert stabilisation) |
Geography Insight
Shelter belts have been particularly effective in stabilising the desert in western India. Rows of trees planted along the edges of the Thar Desert act as natural barriers against wind erosion and have significantly contributed to controlling the advance of sand dunes into agricultural areas.
THINK ABOUT IT — Pasture Decline
L5 Evaluate
The land under permanent pastures in India has been declining steadily. Yet India has one of the world's largest livestock populations. How is this huge cattle population being sustained on shrinking pasture land? What environmental and economic consequences might follow from this mismatch?
Guidance
With declining pastures, livestock increasingly depend on crop residues, fodder crops grown on agricultural land, and overgrazing on whatever pasture remains. This leads to a vicious cycle — overgrazing degrades the remaining pastures further, reducing their carrying capacity. Economic consequences include lower milk yields due to poor nutrition, while environmental impacts include accelerated soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and desertification in vulnerable regions.
📋
Competency-Based Questions
Case Study: A village in the Chambal basin region has been losing farmland year after year to deep gullies carved by seasonal water flow. The villagers have approached the district administration for help. A team of geographers has recommended a combination of afforestation, contour bunding, and terrace farming to address the problem.
Q1. Which type of soil erosion is described in the case study above?
L3 Apply
Q2. Analyse why black soil, despite being highly fertile, can be difficult for farmers to work with. Mention at least two challenges.
L4 Analyse
Q3. Evaluate the effectiveness of shelter belts as a soil conservation measure in western India. What limitations might this approach have?
L5 Evaluate
HOT Q. Design a comprehensive soil conservation plan for a hill village that practises both agriculture and animal husbandry. Include at least three different methods and explain why you chose each.
L6 Create
✍ Assertion-Reason Questions
Assertion (A): Black soil is ideal for cultivating cotton and is also called black cotton soil.
Reason (R): Black soil has excellent moisture-holding capacity and is rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime.
Reason (R): Black soil has excellent moisture-holding capacity and is rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime.
Assertion (A): Over-irrigation in Punjab and Haryana has caused land degradation.
Reason (R): Excessive irrigation leads to water-logging, which increases salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
Reason (R): Excessive irrigation leads to water-logging, which increases salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
Assertion (A): Laterite soil is found in regions with alternating wet and dry seasons.
Reason (R): Laterite soil is rich in plant nutrients due to minimal leaching.
Reason (R): Laterite soil is rich in plant nutrients due to minimal leaching.
Continue Learning — Chapter 1: Resources and Development
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of soil in India?
India has six major soil types: Alluvial soil (most widespread, found in northern plains and river deltas, highly fertile), Black soil (also called regur, found in the Deccan Plateau, ideal for cotton cultivation), Red and Yellow soil (found in eastern and southern Deccan, develops on crystalline igneous rocks), Laterite soil (found in high-rainfall areas of Western Ghats, suitable for tea and coffee), Arid/Desert soil (found in Rajasthan, sandy with low humus), and Forest/Mountain soil (found on hill slopes, rich in humus in upper parts). Each soil type has distinct characteristics based on parent rock, climate, and vegetation.
What is land use pattern in India?
Land use pattern refers to how the total geographical area of a country is divided among different uses. In India, around 54% of total land is under net sown area, about 23% is forested, and the remaining includes barren and waste land, pastures, and land under non-agricultural use. The land use pattern has changed over decades due to urbanisation, deforestation, and agricultural expansion. India aims to have 33% of its area under forests, but currently the actual figure is lower.
What causes soil erosion in India?
Soil erosion in India is caused by running water, wind, and human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, and faulty agricultural practices. Running water creates gullies (called ravines in the Chambal basin) and sheet erosion on gentle slopes. Wind erosion is common in arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan. Removal of vegetation cover, construction activities, and mining also accelerate soil erosion. The NCERT textbook emphasises that soil erosion is both a natural and human-induced phenomenon.
What are the methods of soil conservation?
Key methods of soil conservation include contour ploughing (ploughing along contour lines), terrace farming (creating steps on hill slopes), strip cropping (planting different crops in alternate strips), shelter belts (planting rows of trees to break wind force), and afforestation. Additionally, controlled grazing, banning shifting cultivation, and constructing check dams help reduce erosion. These methods vary by region and terrain as described in the NCERT Class 10 Geography textbook.
What causes land degradation in India?
Land degradation in India is caused by mining operations (especially in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha), overgrazing in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, over-irrigation leading to waterlogging and soil salinity in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, and deforestation. Industrial effluents and urban waste disposal also contribute significantly. The NCERT textbook emphasises that about 130 million hectares of land in India has been degraded.
What is the difference between alluvial and black soil?
Alluvial soil is transported soil deposited by rivers, found in the Indo-Gangetic plain and coastal deltas. It is highly fertile, rich in potash, and ideal for growing rice, wheat, and sugarcane. Black soil (regur) is formed from volcanic basalt rocks in the Deccan Plateau. It is rich in lime, iron, and alumina but poor in phosphorus. Black soil retains moisture well and is self-ploughing, making it ideal for cotton cultivation. Both are important for Indian agriculture but differ in origin, texture, and crop suitability.
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