Concept Summary of the Chapter
Land, soil and water come under abiotic resources and are the most important resources. Natural vegetation and wildlife resources come under biotic resources. Both Biotic and abiotic resources are exhaustible in nature, therefore a judicial use of these resources should be maintained for enhancing their longevity.
The land is among the most important natural resources. It covers about 30% of the total area of the earth’s surface. 90% of the world population occupies only 30% of the land area. The remaining 70% of the land is either sparsely populated or uninhabited.
The land is unevenly inhabited due to various factors like land and climate, water fertility of the soil, etc.
Generally, the sparsely populated or uninhabited areas are because of the rugged top soil.
You will also learn about the following topics:
Uses of Land
Conservation of Land Resources
Soil, soil formation, factors affecting soil formation, Degradation and conservation of soil
Water, Problem of water availability and conservation of water
Natural vegetation & wildlife, its distribution and conservation
NCERT SOLUTION CONCEPT
1. Answer the following questions.
(i) Which are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation?
Answer: Two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation are Temperature and Rainfall, wherein rainfall influences the rate of weathering and humus formation.
(ii) Write any two reasons for land degradation today.
Answer: The overuse of chemical fertilizers and deforestation are the two main reasons for land degradation. The growing population and their ever-growing demand has led to large scale destruction of forest cover and arable land and has created a fear of losing this natural resource.
(iii) Why is land considered an important resource?
Answer: Land is considered an important resource because it can be put to use for various purposes like agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses, roads and setting up of industries.
(iv) Name any two steps that the government has taken to conserve plants and animals.
Answer: Two major steps taken by Government to protect and conserve plants, animals and natural vegetation are:
National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves are made to protect our natural vegetation and wildlife.
Awareness programmes like social forestry and tree plantation- ‘Vanamahotsava’ are organised to conserve forests, which are a valuable natural resource.
(v) Suggest three ways to conserve water.
Answer: Three main ways to conserve water are:
a. Increasing forest cover and other vegetation to slow the surface runoff
b. Replenishing underground water through rainwater harvesting
c. Reducing the loss of water in irrigation and shifting to less water-intensive methods of agriculture
2: State whether the given statement is true or false. If true, give the reasons.
(i). Ganga–Brahmaputra plain of India is an overpopulated region.
True: River valley and plains offer suitable land for agriculture. Hence, they are densely populated.
(ii) Water availability per person in India is declining.
True: Increasing population, increasing urbanization, the rising standards of living and the rising demands for food and cash crops are leading to shortages in the supply of freshwater. The shortages are either due to drying up of water sources or water pollution.
(iii) Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement are called intercropping.
False: Rows of trees are planted to check the wind movement and protect soil cover. These are called as shelterbelts.
(iv). Human interference and changes of climate can maintain the ecosystem.
False: Climate change and human interferences can cause the loss of natural habitats, and hence destroy the ecosystem.
3. 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
(ii) Which one of the following methods is most appropriate to check soil erosion on steep slopes?
(a) Shelterbelts
(b) Mulching
(c) Terrace cultivation
(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 poly packs after shopping
4. Match the following
| Column A | Column B |
| Land Use | Prevent Soil Erosion |
| Humus | Narrow Zone of contact between Lithosphere, Biosphere & Atmosphere |
| Rock Dams | Productive use of land use |
| Biosphere | Organic Matter deposited on top soil |
| Contour Ploughing |
Answer Table
| Column A | Column B |
| Land Use | Productive use of land use |
| Humus | Organic Matter deposited on top soil |
| Rock Dams | Prevent Soil Erosion |
| Biosphere | Narrow Zone of contact between Lithosphere, Biosphere & Atmosphere |
Answers
(i) Answer: b. Soil Texture (ii) Answer: c Terrace cultivation (iii) Answer: c Dispose poly packs after shopping
- The uneven distribution of population in the world is due to the varied characteristics of
(a) land and climate
(b) climate
(c) vegetation
(d) settlements - Australia uses its largest portion of its area for
(a) pastures
(b) crop land
(c) forest
(d) other uses - The lowerjnost layer of the soil is:
(a) Weathered rock
(b) Parent rock
(c) Sub soil
(d) None of these - Why is it necessary to increase the area under forests?
(a) To maintain ecological balance
(b) Forest absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
(c) Forest help in raising the level of precipitation
(d) All of these - Large scale destruction of forests cover and arable land has occured due to the following:
(a) Growing population
(b) Ever growing demand of the population
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these - Match the following:
| Column A | Column B |
| (i) Fallow land | (a) Groups of plant communities in areas having similar climatic conditions |
| (ii) Biomes | (b) Breaking up and decay of exposed rocks due to various factor |
| (iii) Weathering | (c) Marginal land kept fallow for a certain period to restore their fertility |
| (iv) Pastures | (d) Land covered with grass shrubs on which animals are grazed freely |
Options are:-
- (a) (i) – (a), (ii) – (b), (iii)-(c), (iv)-(d)
- (b) (i) – (c), (ii) – (b), (iii)-(a), (iv)-(d)
- (c) (i) – (c), (ii) – (b), (iii)-(d), (iv)-(a)
- (d) (i) – (c), (ii) – (a), (iii)-(b), (iv)-(d)
- The example of common property resource is
(a) community land
(b) individual building
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of these - The quality of land differ from place to place.
- True
- False
- Natural resources are essential for economic development of a country.
- True
- False
- The grassland of Asia and Africa are overpopulated region.
- True
- False
- Water is found only in liquid form on earth.
- True
- False
- Nearly 97% of the earth’s total water is in the form of ………………. and ………………. .
- Sea, Oceans
- Sea, Mountains
- Rivers & Pounds
- Ground & Sea
- We can ………………. the supply of drinking water by installing desalination plants.
- Increase
- Decrease
- Reserve
- None of the above
- Which of the following is used of soil conservation?
(a) Mulching
(b) Shelter belts
(c) Contour ploughing
(d) All of these
- Which of the following is a famous bird sanctuary?
(a) Kaziranga National Park
(b) Tiger Park at Dudhwa
(c) Gir forest
(d) Bharatpur Sanctuary
- Which is not an example of ground water?
(a) Water flowing in rivers
(b) Water through wells
(c) Water through hand pumps
(d) Water through submersible pumps
- is the use of land for different purposes like agriculture, forestry, mining, construction of buildings, houses, industries and road.
(a) Land degradation
(b) Land use
(c) Landfilling
(d) Land digging
- Which of the following determine the use of land?
(a) Soil and topography
(b) Climate and vegetation
(c) Availability of water
(d) All of these
- In which of the following continents is Tanzania situated?
(a) Europe
(b) Asia
(c) Africa
(d) South America
- Which of the following is the most important natural resource ?
(a) Land
(b) Water
(c) Air
(d) All of these