Exercise - Question:

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Q1.   Answer the following questions.

(i) Which are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation?

Answer: Temperature and rainfall are two main climatic factors responsible or soil formation. Rainfall contributes in breaking the rocks by applying pressure. Temperature fluctuations between hot and cold also form cracks in the rocks.

(ii)Write any two reasons for land degradation today.

Answer: Reasons or land degradation are:

(a) Ever growing demand o the growing population

(b) Destruction of forest cover

(iii) Why land is considered an important resource?

Answer: Land is an important resource because it provides surface for agriculture, living, forestry industries, construction, etc. Most activities take place on land

(iv) Name any two steps that government has taken to conserve plants and animals.

Answer: Steps taken by the government include establishment of natural parks ad wildlife sanctuaries sanctuaries in different parts of India. Their purpose is conservation of vegetation and wildlife, respectively.

(v) Suggest three ways to conserve water.

Answer: Three ways to conserve water are as under:

(a)Rainwater harvesting: it is a method o collecting water while it rains so that it may come o use in the future.

(b)The canals used for irrigation should be properly built so that loss water does not take place while the water is transported to the field

(c) In dry regions, drip or trickle irrigation is suggested.

Q2. Tick the correct answer.

(i) Which one of the following is NOT a factor of soil formation?

(a) Time

(b) Soil texture

(c) Organic matter

Answer: (b)

(ii) Which one of the following methods is most appropriate to check soil erosion on steep slopes?

(a) Shelter belts

(b) Mulching

(c) Terrace cultivation

Answer: (c)

(iii) Which one of the following is NOT in favour of the conservation of nature?

(a) Switch off the bulb when not in use

(b) Close the tap immediately after using

(c) Dispose polypacks after shopping

Answer: (c)

Q3. Match the followings.

(i) Land use	(a) prevent soil erosion
(ii) Humus	(b) land suitable for agriculture
(iii) Rock dams	(c) productive use of land
(iv) Arable land	(d) organic matter deposited on top soil
	(e) contour plugging

Answer: 

(i) Land use	(c) productive use of land
(ii) Humus	(d) organic matter deposited on top soil
(iii) Rock dams	(a) prevent soil erosion
(iv) Arable land	(b) land suitable for agriculture

Q4. State whether the given statement is true or false. If true, write the reasons.

(i) Ganga–Brahmaputra plain of India is an overpopulated region.

Answer:    True

(ii)Water availability per person in India is declining.

Answer:    True

(iii) Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement is called intercropping.

Answer:    False

(iv)Human interference and changes of climate can maintain the ecosystem.

Answer:    True

Q5.  Activity Discuss some more reasons which are responsible for changes of land use pattern. Has your place undergone any change in the land use pattern? Find out from your parents and elderly people. You can conduct an interview by asking the following questions.

Answer: Students can prepare their answers by observing the pictures given below.

 

Additional - Question:

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Que: What is the Land?

Ans: The land is one of our greatest natural resources. It covers only about thirty percent of the total surface of the earth and not all parts of that small percentage are habitable. Rugged topography, steep mountain slopes, lowlands sensitive to logging, desert areas, densely wooded areas are usually sparsely populated or uninhabited.

Que: What are the uses of land?

Ans: The land is used for a variety of purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, home building, roads, and industry creation. This is commonly termed Land use. Land use is related to physical factors such as topography, soil, climate, minerals, and water availability. Human factors such as population and technology are equally important determinants of the land-use model.

Que: Which kind of Types of Land?

Ans: Land may also be classified according to its ownership: private land and communal land. Private land is owned by individuals, while community land is owned by the community for common purposes such as gathering forage, fruit, nuts or medicinal herbs. This communal land is also called common resources.

Que: What is the Soil?

Ans: The thin layer of granular substance covering the earth's surface is known as soil. It has close ties to the land. The landscape determines the type of soil. The soil consists of organic matter, minerals, and altered rocks found on the ground. It occurs by the process of alteration. The appropriate combination of minerals and organic matter makes the soil fertile.

Que: Mitigation Mechanism of Landslide Control?

Ans: The advancement of science has enabled us to understand the factors that cause landslides and how to manage them. Here are a few general landslide mitigation techniques:

• Hazard mapping to identify areas prone to landslides. Consequently, such areas can be avoided to construct colonies.

• Build a retaining wall to prevent the earth from slipping.

• Increased vegetation cover to prevent landslides.

• Surface drainage control is used to control the motion of landslides, as well as rainwater and spring flows.

​Que: Which kind of Factors of Soil Formation?

Ans: The most important factors in soil formation are the nature of the original rock and climatic factors. Other factors include topography, the role of organic matter, and the length of time of soil composition.

• Climatic Factors: Temperature, rainfall influence the rate of impairment and the formation of humus.

• Relief: Altitude and gradient, determine ground accumulation. 

• Parent Rock Nature: Determines color, texture, mineral chemistry, strength, permeability.

• Time-taken for Soil Formation: Determines the width of the soil profile.

• Flora, Fauna, and Micro-Organism: Affects the rate of humus development.

​Que: Degradation of Soil and Conservation Measures?

Ans: Soil erosion and depletion are the most important threats to soils as a resource. Soil degradation can result from human and natural factors. The factors leading to land degradation include:

• Deforestation

• Overuse of chemical fertilizers or pesticides

• Rain wash

• Landslides and floods

• Overgrazing

Que: Important of Water?

Ans: Water is a natural, renewable resource of life. Three times the world's surface is covered in water. It is therefore rightly referred to as the "planet of water". It is in the early oceans that life began about 3.5 billion years ago. The oceans still cover two-thirds of the Earth's land surface and are home to a rich variety of plants and animals. But ocean water is salty and unfit for human consumption. Freshwater is just about 2.7%. Nearly 70% of these glaciers occur in Antarctica, Greenland, and mountain regions. Because of where they are located, they are inaccessible. Only one percent of fresh water is available and suitable for human use. It exists as groundwater, surface water in rivers and lakes, and water vapor in the atmosphere.

Que: Which kind Problems of Water Availability?

Ans: In many places around the world, water is scarce. Most of Africa, West Asia, South Asia, parts of the western U.S.A., northwest Mexico, parts of South America, and Australia as a whole are facing freshwater shortages. Countries in the most drought-sensitive climate zones face significant water scarcity problems. For example, water scarcity can be a consequence of variations in seasonal or annual precipitation, or scarcity is caused by overfishing and contamination of water sources.​