Resource and Development Question Bank

1. Give the two factors that determine soil fertility.

Solution:

1)The fertility of the soil is determined by its composition. Sandy soil is unsuitable for agriculture because it does not retain water, which is essential for plant survival. A blend of sand and clay is ideal in soils.

2) Soil fertility is determined by humus content. The humus content of organic farmyard manures is improved.

2. What is the classification of alluvial soil on the basis of their age? Mention their characteristics.

Solution:

Apart from the size of their grains or components, soils are also classified on the basis of their age. According to their age, alluvial soils can be classified as old alluvial ( Bangar ) and new alluvial ( Khadar ). The bangar soil has higher concentration of Kanker nodules than the Khadar. It has more fine particles and is more fertile than the bangar .

3. Major problem faced due to the indiscriminate use of resources by Man- Discuss.

Solution:

Humans used resources indiscriminately, which resulted in the following issues.

1) Resource depletion to satisfy the greed of a few individuals.

2) The concentration of wealth in a few hands, dividing society into two segments: haves and have-nots, or rich and poor.

Global ecological disasters have resulted from indiscriminate resource use.

4. Write a paragraph on resource planning.

Solution:

Resource planning is a complicated process that entails:

(i)Resource planning is a complicated process that entails: Surveying, mapping, and qualitative and quantitative resource evaluation and measurement are all part of this process.

(ii) Developing a planning framework that is equipped with the necessary technology, expertise, and institutional infrastructure to carry out resource development plans.

(iii) Aligning resource development plans with long-term national development strategies.

5. What was the views of Gandhiji on resource conservation?

Solution:

Gandhiji expressed his concern about resource conservation by saying, “There is enough for everyone’s need, but not for anyone’s greed.” He blamed greedy and selfish humans, as well as the exploitative nature of contemporary technology, for world resource depletion. He was opposed to mass production and desired to replace it with mass production.

6. What are the factors that determine the use of land?

Solution:

Physical elements such as terrain, climate, and soil types, as well as human factors such as population density, technological capabilities, culture, and traditions, all influence how land is used.

7. What has significantly contributed to land degradation?

Solution:

Deforestation, overgrazing, mining, and quarrying are all examples of human activities that have contributed considerably to land degradation. After excavation work is completed, mining sites are abandoned, leaving deep scars and evidence of overburdening. Deforestation caused by mining has resulted in severe land degradation in areas like as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Orissa. Overgrazing is a major cause of land degradation in areas like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Over irrigation causes land degradation in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh due to water logging, which causes a rise in salinity and alkalinity in the soil. Mineral processing, such as limestone grinding for the cement industry and calcite and soapstone grinding for the ceramic industry, produces a large amount of dust in the environment. It slows the infiltration of water into the soil after it has settled on the ground. In many sections of the country, industrial effluents as waste have become a major source of land and water pollution in recent years.

8. How can the problem of deforestation be solved?

Solution:

Land degradation can be addressed in a variety of ways.

1. Afforestation and correct grazing management can help to a degree.

2. Planting of plant shelterbelts, controlling overgrazing, and stabilizing sand dunes by planting prickly shrubs

3. In industrial and suburban regions, proper wasteland management, mining activity wastesregulation, and proper discharge and disposal of treated industrial effluents and .

9. Soil is the most important renewable natural resource. Explain.

Solution:

It serves as a growing medium for plants and as a habitat for a variety of living organisms on the planet. Soil is a living organism. Soil formation up to a depth of a few centimetres takes millions of years. Soil formation is influenced by elements such as relief, parent rock or bed rock, climate, flora, and other kinds of life, as well as time.

Various natural forces, including as temperature changes, running water, wind, and glaciers, decomposer activity, and so on, all contribute to the development of soil. Changes in the soil’s chemical and organic composition are equally essential. Organic (humus) and inorganic components coexist in soil.

10.Is black soil easy to work, in hot climate? Explain.

Solution:

The clayey particles in the black soils is exceedingly fine. They’re noted for their ability to retain moisture. They’re also high in soil nutrients like calcium carbonate, magnesium, potassium, and lime. The phosphoric concentration of these soils is typically low. During hot weather, they create deep fissures, which aid in appropriate soil aeration. When wet, these soils become sticky and difficult to work on unless they are tilled just after the first shower or during the pre-monsoon period.

11. Give the importance of human beings as an essential component of resource?

Solution:

Man converts materials found in our environment into resources, which he then employs. As a result, Man is seen as a vital component of the Resource. Wood, for example, is a substance that, when used, becomes a piece of furniture, which is a resource.

12. Give the differences between resource-rich countries and resource-poor countries.

Solution:

Resource-Rich Countries

1. Resource-rich countries are ones that have a lot of natural resources like forests and water.

2. For example, India has a vast resource base, but most of it is untapped potential owing to a lack of technology.

Resources Poor Countries

1. Countries with a limited resource base are referred to as resource-poor.

2. Take Japan, which has no natural resources but is wealthy in technological talent.

13. India has a wide variety of relief features, which are the most important resources. Justify the statement.

Solution:

Mountains, plains, and plateaus are among the relief features found in India.

(i) The plain land area, which provides facilities for the agriculture industry, accounts for around 43% of the total land area.

(ii) Mountains cover 30% of the land area, providing opportunities for tourism and environmental concerns.

It also ensures that some rivers continue to flow.

(iii) The plateau region contains about 27% of the world’s mineral reserves.

14. What are the various stages of resources planning?

Solution:

(i) Identifying and taking inventory of resources across the country, which includes surveying, mapping, and resource measuring.

(ii) Developing a planning structure with the necessary technological capabilities and institutions to carry out resource development strategies.

(iii) Aligning resource development plans with the country’s overall development goals.

15. What are the uses of resource planning?

Solution:

(i) It reduces the exploitation of natural resources.

(ii) It prevents contamination in the environment.

(iii) Because resources are limited, it is necessary to conserve them for future use.

(iv) It is necessary for rapid economic growth.

16. What is sustainable economic development?

Solution:

Economic development that is sustainable means that it takes place without harming the environment, and that it does not sacrifice the requirements of future generations.

17.What is the inter-relationship between nature, technology institutions?

Solution:

Humans interact with nature to meet their needs by utilizing the resources available. He also creates institutions to accelerate their economic development by converting natural resources into resources through technology.

18. What are the methods adopted to solve the problems of land degradation?

Solution:

1. Afforestation.

2. Proper management of grazing land.

3. Planting of shelterbelts in desert areas.

4. Control of overgrazing.

5. Stabilization of sand dunes by growing theory bushes.

6. Proper management of wastelands.

7. Control on mining activities.

8. Proper discharge disposal of effluents waster after treatment can reduce land degradation.

19. Give a few activities which result in the land – degradation.

Solution:

1. Deforestation in states such as Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.

2. Overgrazing has resulted in land deterioration in Punjab and Haryana.

3. Land degradation has been exacerbated by mining quarrying, as mine sites abound after excavation work is completed, leaving deep scars.

4. Over irrigation in areas like Punjab and Haryana causes land degradation owing to waterlogging, which causes soil salinity and alkalinity to rise.

5. Mineral processing, such as the grinding of limestone for the cement industry, generates a large amount of dust in the atmosphere, which settles on land and prevents water from percolating into the soil.

6. Industrial effluents are a major source of water pollution on land.

20. Soil is the most important renewable natural resource. Explain.

Solution:

It serves as a growing medium for plants and as a habitat for a variety of living organisms on the planet. Soil is a living organism. Soil formation up to a depth of a few centimeters takes millions of years. Soil formation is influenced by elements such as relief, parent rock or bedrock, climate, flora, and other kinds of life, as well as time.

Various natural forces, including temperature changes, running water, wind, and glaciers, decomposer activity, and so on, all contribute to the development of soil. Changes in the soil’s chemical and organic composition are equally essential. Organic (humus) and inorganic components coexist in soil.

21. Is black soil easy to work, in a hot climate? Explain.

Solution:

The black soils are made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material. They are well known for their capacity to hold moisture. In addition, they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime. These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents. They develop deep cracks during hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration of the soil. These soils ae sticky when wet and difficult to work on unless tilled immediately after the first shower or during the pre-monsoon period.

22. Explain any four human activities which are mainly responsible for land degradation in India. Give any two suggestions to check land degradation. 

Answer: (i) Mining : Mining is one of the major factors responsible for land degradation. In states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, deforestation due to mining have caused severe land degradation.

(ii) Overgrazing : During the long dry period, grass is grazed to the ground and torn out by the roots by animals. This leads to loosening of soil and it is easily washed away by rains. In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation.

(iii) Overirrigation : In the states of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, overirrigation is responsible for land degradation due to waterlogging which leads to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil.

(iv) Processing of minerals : The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry and calcite and soapstone for ceramic industry generate huge quantity of dust in the atmosphere. It retards the process of infiltration of water into the soil after it settles down on the land. In recent years, industrial effluents as waste have become a major source of land and water pollution in many parts of the country.

Suggestions :

(i) Plant more trees

(ii) We should not waste paper.

 

23. Explain the importance of conservation of resources. 

Answer: (i) Limited supply : Most of the resources have limited supply as compared to their demand for example supply of fossil fuels is limited.

(ii) Pollution and global warming :

Overutilisation of natural resources may lead to environmental pollution for example over use of fossil fuel is a major factor responsible for global warming.

(iii) Socio economic problem : The destruction of forests and wildlife is not just

a biological issue. The biological loss is strongly correlated with the loss of cultural diversity. Such losses have increasingly marginalised and impoverished many indigenous and other forest-dependent communities, who directly depend on various components of the forest and wildlife for food, drink, medicine, culture, spirituality, etc. Within the poor, women are affected more than men. In many societies, women bear the major responsibility of collection of fuel, fodder, water and other basic subsistence needs. As these resources are depleted, the drudgery of women increases and sometimes they have to walk for more than 10 km to collect these resources. This causes serious health problems for women and negligence of home and children because of the increased hours of work, which often has serious social implications. Gandhiji was very apt in voicing his concern about resource conservation. He said, “There is enough for everybody’s need, and not for anybody’s greed. ” According to him, they were the greedy and selfish individuals who were responsible for depletion of resources. He was in favour of producing for the masses than mass production.

24. “The earth has enough resources to meet the need of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person.” How is this statement relevant to the discussion of development? Discuss. 

Answer: (i) Resources are vital for any developmental activity.

(ii) The irrational consumption and over utilization of resources may lead to socio economic and environmental problems.

(iii) Indiscriminate exploitation of resources led to global ecological crises such as global warming, environmental pollution, etc

(iv) The greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative nature of modem technology is the root cause for resource depletion at the global level.

(v) If the present trend of resource depletion by a few individuals and countries continues, the future of our planet is in danger.

(vi) There is need for sustainable development.

It means development should take place without damaging the environment and development in the present shout not compromise with the need of future generations’.

24. “Indiscriminate use of resources has led to numerous problems”. Justify the statement in three points. 

Answer: (I) Depletion of resources : Over-utilisation has led to the depletion of the resources for meeting the greed of a few individuals. For example, over-utilisation of petroleum products has led to a situation where most of the countries of the world are facing energy crisis.

(ii) Concentration of resources: This has divided the society into ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ or the rich and the poor.

(iii) Global ecological crisis : Over utilisation of resources has led to the global ecological crisis such as global warming, depletion of ozone layer, pollution and land degradation.

Suggestions :

(i) Minimising wastage.

(ii) Use of renewable resources.

25. “India has land under a variety of relief features.” Justify.

Answer: India has land under a variety of relief features, namely: mountains, plateaus, plains and islands.

(i) About 43 per cent of the land area is plain, which provides facilities for agriculture and industry.

(ii) Mountains account for 30 per cent of the total surface area. They ensure perennial flow of some rivers, provide facilities for tourism and ecological aspects.

(iii) About 27 per cent of the land area is plateau. It possesses reserves of minerals, fossil fuels and forests.

26. Do you think that resources are free gifts of nature as is assumed by many? Justify your answer with any three suitable arguments. [CBSE 2012]

Answer: They are not free gifts of nature as :

(i) Resources are a function of human activities,

(ii) Human beings themselves are essential components of resources.

(iii) They transform material available in our environment into resources and use them.

For example river is a natural resource but river become a resource when its water is used for irrigation or power production.

27. What is soil conservation? Explain any three methods of soil conservation suitable to Indian conditions. 

Answer: Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil from erosion or degradation.

(i) Crop rotation : If the same crop is sown in the same field, year after year, this consumes certain nutrients from the soil making it infertile. Crop rotation can check this type of erosion.

(ii) Settled agriculture : Checking and reducing shifting agriculture by persuading the tribal people to switch over to settled agriculture.

(iii) Terracing and contour bunding :

Terracing and contour bunding across the hill slopes is a very effective, and one of the oldest methods of soil conservation. Hill slope is cut into a number of terraces having horizontal top and steep slopes on the back and front. Contour bunding involves the construction of bank along the contour.

(iv) Strip cropping : Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind. This method is known as strip cropping. 

(v) Shelter Belt : Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rows of such trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the stabilisation of sand dunes and in establishing the desert in western India.

28. Give reasons :

(i) Alluvial soil can hold moisture, and is very fertile.

(ii) Black soil needs to be tilled after the first rain.

(iii) Red soil is ideal for dry farming.

(iv) The percentage of organic matter in desert soil is very low.

(v) Red soil is less fertile.

Answer: (i) Because the alluvial soil is made up of fine particles. The soil is very fertile because it is rich in mineral nutrients like potash and lime.

(ii) The soil is sticky, and difficult to work unless tilled immediately after the first rain.

(iii) Because it does not require much moisture.

(iv) Because of the dry climate and absence of vegetation.

(v) Because it is deficient in phosphorus, nitrogen, lime and humus.

29. What is soil erosion? Explain the major types of soil erosions prevailing in India. [CBSE Sept. 2010]

Answer: “Soil erosion is the removal of soil by the forces of nature like wind and water, more rapidly than the various soil forming processes can replace it.” Generally, there is a balance between the soil forming process and the erosional process. The balance can be disturbed by natural or human factors.

Types of Soil Erosion :

(a) Water Erosion : Water is a powerful agent of soil erosion. Following are the major types of erosion caused by water.

(i) Sheet Erosion : When the top layer of the soil is removed over a large area by the running water, it is called as sheet erosion.

(ii) Rill Erosion : This is the second stage of sheet erosion. If erosion continues unchecked for a sufficient time, (rills) or small finger-shaped grooves which are a few centimetres in depth, may develop on the landscape. Over a period of time, the fine rills increase in number and also become deeper and wider, and resemble the twigs, branches and trunk of a tree. This is called as rill erosion.

(iii) Gully Erosion : This is the third stage of sheet erosion. With further erosion of the soil, the rills may deepen and become enlarged, and are ultimately turned into gullies. The main cause of gully erosion is the removal of vegetation, particularly of trees with their widespread binding roots. Gullies cut up agricultural land and the entire area may be turned into a bad land topography. Gully erosion is also responsible for the formation of ravines.

(b) Wind erosion : Wind is a powerful agent of erosion in arid and semi-arid lands with little rainfall. Wind can lift the valuable top soil from one area and deposits in another area. The wind erosion is very dangerous type of erosion because due to wind most of the deserts of the world are expanding.

30. Name the soil type which is widely found in Western Rajasthan. Explain two important characteristics of this soil type which make it unsuitable for cultivation. 

Answer: Arid soil is widely found in Western Rajasthan.

(i) The soil ranges red to brown in colour.

(ii) The soils contain considerable amount of soluble salts.

(iii) The soils contain a low percentage of organic matter due to dry climate and absence of vegetation.

(iv) The soil is alkaline in nature as there is no rainfall to wash soluble salts.

(v) The lower horizon of the soil is occupied by ‘kankar’ because of the increasing calcium content downwards. The ‘kankar’ layer formations in the bottom horizons restrict the infiltration of water.

(vi) The soils are infertile but with irrigation and

fertilizers, the drought resistant and salt tolerant dry crops such as barley, cotton, wheat, millets, maize, pulses, etc., are grown. (Any Four)