Class 10 chapter 2: Land Resources - land use pattern, alluvial soil, fallow land, terrace farming

Land resources is the name of chapter 2 from the Social Studies Textbook of class 10. The chapter explains land as a resource, land degradation, types of soil, types of alluvial soil, soil erosion and terrace farming methods.

Terrace farming in Meghalaya    | image:pexel

Following are the possible questions that could be asked from this chapter.

Q. Name two factors that determine the land use pattern.

ANS. The land-use patterns are determined by the following two factors - 

Physical factors - such as topography, climate and soil type.

Human factors - include population, density, technological capability and cultural traditions etc.

Q. What is the total geographical area of India?

ANS. 3.28 million square kilometres.

What is a fallow land?

ANS. The fallow land island is not utilised or not cultivated. Fallow land is of two types - 

1. Current fallow land - the land which is not used for cultivation for one year or less is called current fallow land.

2. Other than current fallow land - the land which is not been cultivated for the last 1 to 5 years is called other than current fallow land.

Q. What is the net sown area?

ANS. The total land that is used for cultivation in a given year is called a net sown area.

Q. What are wastelands?

ANS. The agricultural land which is left uncultivated for more than five years is called wasteland.

Q. What is land degradation?

ANS. The loss in quality of the soil because of any reason is called land degradation.

Q. What are the causes of land degradation?

ANS. Land degradation is brought about by 

1. Overgrazing decreases the vegetal covering of the soil which leads to water and wind erosion.
2. Abandoned mining sites
3. Water-logging due to over-irrigation caused the increase in salinity and alkalinity of the soil.
4. Effluents from industries
5. Inappropriate agricultural practices such as jhum cultivation, unbalanced application of fertilizers and faulty irrigation practices.

Q. Define soil.

ANS. The uppermost layer of the earth's crust in which plants grow is called soil.

Q. What is humus?

ANS. The organic matter which is formed by the decomposition of the dead bodies of plants and animals is called humus. It adds fertility to the soil.

What is alluvial soil? What are the components of alluvial soil? Name the places that are rich in alluvial soil.

ANS. The soil that is deposited by activities of the flowing river along its bank is called alluvial soil. Alluvial soil is also known as transported soil. 

The components of alluvial soil consist of silt, sand and clay.

Places that have many rivers are rich in alluvial soil. The states of Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab are rich in alluvial deposits.

What are khadar and bangar?

ANS. 

Khadar: The alluvial soil which is newly deposited by the river bank is called khadar. It is light in colour and contains finer particles of kankar. Khadar is also called the new alluvial. The khadar is more fertile than the bangar.

Bangar: The alluvial soil which has been formed a few years ago was deposited far away from the river. It contains a higher concentration of rough kankar. Bangar is also known as the old alluvial. 

Q. What is a kankar?

ANS. The tiny rocks called nodules which got transported along with the alluvial deposits are called Kanker.

Q. Which type of soil is ideal for growing cotton?

ANS. Black soil is ideal for growing cotton 

Q. What is laterite soil? Name the areas rich in laterite soil.

ANS. Laterite soil is also called leached soil. It is composed mostly of gravel ref sandstones and little clay. 

Laterite soil is found in the region where there is heavy rainfall like in Meghalaya, Assam and the Western Ghats.

Q. Define soil erosion.

Ans. The loss of topsoil due to the action of agents like wind and rain is called soil erosion.

What do you understand about terrace farming?

ANS. Terrace farming is a farming method followed in hilly regions where the loss of soil by erosion is imminent. In terrace farming, the sloppy hillside is cut into flatbeds. Cultivation is done on the beds. Along the edges of the cut so formed beds, plants with profuse rooting systems are planted to prevent soil loss due to erosion. Terrace farming is practised in several states; Meghalaya, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, etc.