CHAPTER 1: RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT (class x)

Remember These Points

• Anything available in the environment and can be used to satisfy the needs of human being is called as resource, e.g. water, land, air, minerals, wildlife etc.
• Leaching is a process which takes place in high temperature and rainfall area. In this process minerals of the soil are dissolved into the rainwater and they move down in the soil. Laterite soil is formed by this process.
• Black soil is also called as ‘regur soil’.
• Manganese nodules are extracted from Indian Ocean.
• Full form of UNCED is United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
• Rajasthan has abundant solar and wind energy potential.
• Earth Summit was held in Rio de Jeniro [Brazil] in 1992.
• The book written by Schumacher is ‘Small is Beautiful’.
• Black soil is formed by weathering of lava rocks.
• Red soil is formed by weathering of igneous rocks. It looks red due to iron-oxide.
• Land degraded by gully erosion in Chambal River basin is called ‘Ravines’ or ‘Bad Land’.

Types or Classification of Resources

On the basis of origin:

1. Biotic: Those resources which has life are called biotic resources e.g. plants, trees, animals etc.
2. Abiotic: Those resources which do not have life are called as abiotic resources e.g. land, water, minerals etc.

On the basis of exhaustibility:

a) Renewable [Forest, Wildlife, Water]

b) Non-Renewable [Metals, Fossils Fuels]

On the basis of ownership:

a) Individual [land, plot, well, pond]

b) Community [Grazing land, burial ground, park]

c) National [Minerals, Forest, Rivers]

d) International [EEZ – Ocean up to 200 km]

On the basis of development:

1. Potential Resources: Resources which are found in an area but not have been utilized. For example, Rajasthan and Gujurat has enough potential to produce solar energy due to cloudless sky and more temperature.
2. Developed Resources: When resources found in a region are surveyed by engineer and their quality and quantity are determine for utilization, it is called developed resource. Technology and capital help in development of resources.
3. Stock Resources: Material found in our environment can satisfy many of our need but they are not used because of lack of appropriate technology. For example, water has hydrogen, a good source of energy, but due appropriate technology water is not being used as fuel.
4. Reserve Resources: Reserve is those parts of stock which can be utilized using existing technology. But these resources are not being used and they have been left for future generation. They are called reserve.

Sustainable Development: Development without damaging the environment is called as sustainable development. This development meets the demands of present generation as well as future generations.

Earth Summit and Agenda 21: Earth Summit is an international conference on environment. It was held in Rio de Jeniro [Brazil] in 1992. In the conference leaders of the words discussed about sustainable development and they adopted 21 points policy which is called ‘Agenda 21’.

Resource Planning and Its Steps

Resource planning is method to use the resources in optimum way so that maximum benefit should reach to maximum people. Resource planning also means avoiding wastage, misuse and overuse of resources. There are three steps for resource planning.

a)    Identification and inventory of resources by surveying and mapping

b)    Evolving a planning structure to use the resources with appropriate technology

c)     Matching resource development plan with national development plan

Need and Methods of Conservation of Resources

Father of the nation – Mahatma Gandhi – said that “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed”. We should conserve resources for following reasons.

a)    Resources are not found everywhere. They are unevenly distributed.

b)    Resources are limited. Many of the resources are non-renewable.

c)     Resources should be conserved for reducing all kinds of pollution.

d)    Resources are also conserved for ‘sustainable development’.

e)    Conservation is needed to protect natural heritage.

Methods or measurements for resource conservation are as under:

a)    Wastage, misuse and overuse of resources should be avoided.

b)    Renewable resources should be used more e.g. solar energy, wind energy etc.

c)     Older technology should be replaced with newer, modern and efficient technology.

d)    Awareness should be created among the people.

e)    Govt. should pass strict laws for establishment and location of industries.

f)     Used items should be recycled using new technology.

Land Use and Its Category

Land is used for various purposes in a country. India has vast land resource. Total area of our country is about 3.28 million sq. km. India ranks 7^th in the world in term of size. But most of parts are covered by either mountain or plateau. India has only 43% plain where agriculture is possible. Mountains are good sources of biotic resources where varieties of minerals are found in the plateau. There are 5 categories under land use.

1. Forest
2. Land not available for cultivation
3. Other uncultivated land
4. Fallow land
5. Net sown area

§  Land not available for cultivation includes barren land, waste land and land which is used for building, roads, parks, factories etc.

§  Fallow land is that land which is left uncultivated by the farmer. Farmer leaves some land to give rest to the land. Lands are also left fallow due low rainfall, lack of capital or seeds etc. Fallow land for one or less than one year is called Current Fallow. If land is left fallow for more than one but less than five years it is called as Other Fallow land.

§  Net sown area is the actual land on which agriculture is done. Some parts of net sown area is used more than one time in a single agricultural season. When this land is added with net sown area, it is called gross sown area or gross cropped area.

Land Degradation and Its Causes

Lowering the quality of land up to such an extent that the land become unfit for any use, it is called as land degradation. About 130 million hectare of lands are degraded in India. Following are the causes of land degradation.

a)    Deforestation – cutting of trees and forest

b)    Erosion by rain water and wind

c)     Water logging in low lying area

d)    Increasing salinity [salt] due to over irrigation

e)    Dumping of urban and industrial waste on valuable land

f)     Mining and quarrying activities for extracting minerals

Soil, Its Formation & Factors Affecting Soil Formation

Meaning of Soil: It is an important an renewable resource. It is upper part of the crust which is loose and fragmented. It has air, water and minerals contents and it support growth of plants. Bacteria and other small organisms are also found in the soil which makes it more fertile.

Formation of Soil: Soil is formed by weathering and erosion of rocks. Temperature and rainfall breaks down the rock into smaller parts. After mixing of water and minerals in these sediments, it acquires the form of soil. Following factors affect soil formation.

Factors Affecting Soil Formation

a)    Parent Rocks: It determined the colour, texture and mineral contents in soil

b)    Climate [Rainfall and Temperature]: It determines rate of weathering and erosion of rocks.

c)     Topography [Slope]: On higher land thin layer of soil is found, while in the lower valley thick deposition of alluvium is found.

d)    Vegetation [Plants and Trees]: They add organic matter [Humus] to the soil.

e)    Time: Older soils are generally more fertile than newer soil.

Soil Erosion and Methods of Soil Conservation

Soil Erosion: Removal of top and fertile layer of soil by the agents like rainwater and wind is called soil erosion. Soil erosion is a acute problem in India. Chambal river basin is so badly eroded that this entire area is called as ‘Bad Land or Ravines’. There are three types of erosion, i.e. a) Sheet Erosion, b) Rill Erosion and c) Gully Erosion [Most Dangerous]. Followings are the reasons for soil erosion.

Reason for Soil Erosion:

a)    Deforestation – Cutting down of trees and forests

b)    Torrential [heavy] rainfall

c)     Overgrazing by cattle

d)    Unscientific agriculture [Ploughing land parallel to the slope]

e)    Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation

Measurement to Check Soil Erosion:

a)    Afforestation – Planting trees on degraded land

b)    Plugging of gullies

c)     Check on overgrazing by cattle

d)    Scientific agriculture [Ploughing land at right angle of slope – Contour Ploughing]

e)    Crop rotation

f)     Terrace farming

g)    Preparation of shelter belt

Short Note on Alluvial Soil

§  It is the most fertile and extensive soil in India.

§  It is found in the river valleys of Ganga, Yamuna, Indus and Brahmaputra.

§  This soil has been formed by deposition of sediments in the northern plain.

§  This soil is found from Punjab up to Assam. It is also found along the coastal areas.

§  Coarse soil near the mountain foothill is called duars, chos and tarai. In the plain area, lower parts are called khadar and upper parts are called banger.

§  This soil is ideal for the agriculture of rice, wheat, sugarcane, pulses and many other crops.

Short Note on Black Soil

§  This soil is formed by the weathering of lava rocks.

§  It looks black due to presence of magnesium in it.

§  It is found mainly in Maharastra, Gujarat and Karnataka [Deccan Trap].

§  Black soil has high capacity to hold moisture. It become sticky when it is wet and develop crack when it is dry.

§  It is best for the cultivation of cotton. Hence, it is called as Black Cotton Soil. It is also known as ‘Regur Soil’.