Geography - Chapter-1 Resources and Development - Notes

Resource

• Anything around us that we can use to fulfill our needs, as long as we can get to it with our technology, affords it, and it fits with our culture, is called a 'resource'.

The transformation of things in our environment involves three main parts:

• Nature
• Technology
• Institutions
• Humans interact with nature by using technology.
• They also create institutions to speed up their economic growth.
• Resources are made by people. People are a big part of resources. They take things from our environment and turn them into resources they can use. These resources can be grouped in following ways:
• Based on where they come from – biotic and abiotic
• Biotic Resources: These are come from living things in the natural world. For example: People, plants, animals, fish, and livestock, among others.
• Abiotic Resources: These are things made up of non-living stuff. For example: Rocks and metals.
• Based on if they run out or not – renewable and non-renewable
• Renewable : Resources that can be made again through natural processes like the sun, wind, and water, or with the help of science and machines, are called Renewable Resources. Renewable resources can also be grouped into those that keep coming, like the wind and sun, and those that flow, like water. For example: Energy from the sun and wind, water, forests, and animals.
• Non-Renewable : Non-Renewable Resources take a super long time to form, like millions of years. Some, like metals, can be used again and again, but others, like fossil fuels, can't be reused and run out when we use them up. For example: Minerals and fossil fuels."
• Based on who owns them – individual, community, national and international
• Individual Resources: These are things that belong to people individually. In villages, folks own things like land, and in cities, they own plots, houses, and other stuff. For example: Plantations, fields for animals to graze, ponds, and water in wells.
• Community Resources: These are things everyone in a community can use together. For example: Areas for animals to graze, places to bury the deceased, public parks, spots for picnics, and places to play games.
• National Resources: These are owned by a whole country. It includes minerals, water, forests, wildlife, land inside the country's borders, and the ocean area up to 12 nautical miles (about 22.2 km) from the coast, which is called territorial waters. For example: Roads, canals, railways, and more.
• International Resources: These are managed by organizations that work internationally. Ocean resources beyond 200 nautical miles from the Exclusive Economic Zone belong to the open ocean, and no single country can use them without approval from international groups.
• Based on how ready they are to use – potential, developed stock and reserves.
• Potential Resources: These are things we find in a place but haven't used yet. For example: In places like Rajasthan and Gujarat, there's a lot of potential for using wind and solar energy, but we haven't really used it much.
• Developed Resources: These are resources we've looked into and figured out how much we have and how good they are for using. Whether we use them or not depends on technology and how practical it is.
• Materials in the environment that could meet our needs, but we don't have the right technology for them, are called stocks. For example: Hydrogen can be an excellent energy source, but we don't have the advanced technology to use it.
• Reserves: These are a part of the stock, and we can use them with the technology we already have. But we haven't started using them yet, and we save them for the future. For example: Water in dams, forests, and such, which we can use later on.

Development of Resources

• People have used resources without thinking, and this has caused some big problems:
• Resources are running out because a few people are using too much.
• Some folks have lots of resources, which makes society split into rich and poor groups.
• It's also causing global problems like global warming, the hole in the ozone layer, pollution, and the land getting worse.
• We need to plan how to use resources better so that all living things can keep going. Sustainable Economic Development means we should grow and get better without hurting the environment. And what we do now shouldn't make it hard for future generations to have what they need.

Sustainable development

• Sustainable development means making things better without harming nature, and what we do today should not make life difficult for the people who come after us.

Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992

• In 1992, leaders from over 100 countries met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the first International Earth Summit. They talked about how to protect the environment and make the world better for everyone.
• At the Summit, they agreed on some important things. They made promises about dealing with climate change and protecting different plants and animals. They also had rules for taking care of forests all over the world. They made a plan called Agenda 21 to make sure the world gets better for future generations.

Agenda 21

• Agenda 21 is a global promise made by leaders in 1992. It's about working together to make the world better and safer for everyone. It's like a plan to fix problems like harming the environment, poverty, and disease. It also says that every local government should have its own plan to improve their area.

Resource Planning

• Planning is a smart way to use resources carefully. It's really important in India because the country has lots of different kinds of resources. Some places have plenty of one thing but not enough of something else.
• For example, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh have lots of minerals and coal. Arunachal Pradesh has lots of water but needs better buildings and roads. Rajasthan has a ton of sun and wind for energy but not much water. Ladakh, a desert with a rich culture, doesn't have enough water, good roads, or some important minerals.
• This means we need a plan that makes sure all places, from the whole country down to small areas, have what they need.

Resource Planning in India

• Resource planning in India is a bit complicated. It includes three main reasons:
• Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This involves surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the resources.
• Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional set up for implementing resource development plans.
• Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.
• India has been working on resource planning since the first Five-Year Plan after gaining independence.
• Having resources is important for a place to grow, but just having resources isn't enough. If technology and the way things work in that place don't change too, it can stop growth.
• In India, there are areas with lots of resources, but they're not very rich. On the other hand, some places don't have many resources but are rich.

Conservation of Resources

Definition: Conservation of resources means taking care of and using resources wisely so that they last longer and don't run out.

Saying and their Mean :

Gandhi says “There's enough for what everyone needs, but not for what some people want.” He pointed out that selfish and greedy individuals, along with modern technology that takes too much, are the reasons why we're running out of resources globally. He didn't like big factories making lots of things and wanted regular people to make things instead.

Land Resources

Land is an incredibly important natural resource. It provides support for natural plants and animals, human life, economic activities, transportation, and communication systems. India has land with various types of landforms, including mountains, plateaus, plains, and islands, as illustrated below:

Land Utilisation

We use land for different purposes:

• Forests
• Land not used for cultivation
• Barren and waste land
• Land used to non-agricultural uses like- buildings, roads, factories, etc.
• Other unused land (uncultivated land)
• Land for animals to graze and roam
• Land with various tree crops or groves (not included in land used for farming)
• Cultruable waste land - Land left uncultivated for more than 5 years
• Fallow lands
• Current fallow- Land left without cultivation for one year or less
• Other than current fallow- Land left without cultivation for 1 to 5 years
• Net sown area - The land where crops are planted and harvested is known as net sown area.
• The total area planted more than once in a year plus the net sown area is called the Gross Cropped Area.

LAND USE PATTERN IN INDIA

Land use depends on various factors:

• Physical Factors:
• Topography (the shape of the land)
• Climate
• Soil types
• Human Factors:
• Population density (how many people live in an area)
• Technological capability (what technology is available)
• Culture and traditions (how people live and what they value)
• India's total land area is 3.28 million square kilometers.
• Land use data is available for 93% of this area because some regions, like the northeastern states except Assam, haven't been fully surveyed.
• Parts of Jammu and Kashmir are not surveyed due to occupation by Pakistan and China.
• The land used for permanent pasture has decreased.
• Most land not currently used for farming is either of poor quality or too expensive to cultivate, so it's farmed only once or twice every few years. This inclusion raises the net sown area to about 54% of the total reported area in India.
• The percentage of land used for farming varies widely from one state to another. It's over 80% in Punjab and Haryana and less than 10% in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• India's forest area is lower than what's recommended in the National Forest Policy of 1952, which was 33% of the total geographical area. This is important for keeping the environment balanced, and many people who live near these forests depend on them for their livelihoods.
• Some land is considered waste, and some is used for non-agricultural purposes like settlements, roads, railways, and industry.
• Continuous use of land over a long period without proper conservation and management has led to land degradation, with serious consequences for society and the environment.

Land Degradation and Conservation Measures :

• Land is essential for our basic needs, but human activities harm it. For instance, deforestation, overgrazing, mining, and industrial pollution damage the land.
• After mining, land is often left with deep scars, as seen in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha due to deforestation from mining.
• Overgrazing by animals, as observed in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, is another significant cause of land degradation.
• In Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, excessive water use for farming leads to soil problems, causing waterlogging and increased soil salinity.
• Some industries, such as limestone and calcite processing for cement and ceramics, generate dust that settles on the land, hindering water infiltration into the soil.
• Industrial waste has become a major source of pollution for both land and water in recent years.
• Solutions to Land Degradation:
• Plant more trees and take care of where animals graze.
• Grow rows of plants to make protective barriers.
• Use thorny bushes to stop sand dunes from moving.
• Take care of unused land properly.
• Make sure mining is done carefully.
• Treat and safely get rid of waste from factories and industries.

 Soil as a Resource

• Soil is the most important renewable natural resource.
• It serves as the medium for plant growth and supports various living organisms on Earth.
• Soil is a living system that takes millions of years to form even a few centimeters in depth.
• Factors like relief, parent rock, climate, vegetation, time, and other life forms play a role in soil formation.
• Natural forces like temperature changes, running water, wind, glaciers, and decomposers contribute to soil formation.
• Chemical and organic changes within the soil are also significant.
• Soil is composed of organic material (humus) and inorganic materials.

Classification of Soils

India's soils are classified into different types based on factors like formation processes, color, thickness, texture, age, and chemical and physical properties.

Alluvial Soils

• Alluvial soil is the most widely spread and significant type of soil in India.
• It covers the entire northern plains, forming the foundation of this region.
• These soils result from the deposits made by three major Himalayan river systems: the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra.
• A narrow corridor of alluvial soil extends into Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• You can also find alluvial soil in the eastern coastal plains, especially in the deltas of rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.

Alluvial Soil Characteristics

• Alluvial soil consists of varying proportions of sand, silt, and clay. As you move inland toward river valleys, the soil particles tend to be somewhat larger.
• In the upper reaches of river valleys, closer to where the land slopes down, the soils are coarser. You can find such soils more commonly in piedmont plains like Duars, Chos, and Terai.
• Apart from grain size, soils are classified based on their age. Alluvial soils are categorized as:
• Bangar (Old alluvial) :
• Bangar soil contains more kanker nodules and finer particles compared to Khadar soil.
• Khadar (New alluvial) :
• Khadar soil contains more fine particles and it is more fertile than the Bangar.
• Alluvial soils, in general, are highly fertile and contain adequate proportions of potash, phosphoric acid, and lime. These properties make them ideal for growing crops like sugarcane, paddy, wheat, and various cereals and pulses.
• Due to their high fertility, regions with alluvial soils are extensively cultivated and densely populated.

Black Soil (Regur Soil)

• Black soil, also known as regur soil, is characterized by its black color.
• It is particularly suitable for cultivating cotton and hence is often called black cotton soil.
• The formation of black soil is influenced by both climatic conditions and the parent rock material.
• These soils are typically found in the Deccan trap (Basalt) region, which covers the northwest Deccan plateau. This region is formed by lava flows.
• Black soils extend across plateaus in Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. They also spread southeastward along the Godavari and Krishna valleys.
• Black soils primarily consist of extremely fine clayey material, which is adept at retaining moisture.
• They are rich in essential soil nutrients, including calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime.
• These soils tend to be deficient in phosphoric content.
• During hot weather, black soils develop deep cracks that facilitate proper soil aeration.
• When wet, black soils become sticky and are challenging to work with unless they are tilled immediately after the first rainfall or during the pre-monsoon period.

Red and Yellow Soils

• Red soil forms in regions with low rainfall and is typically found on crystalline igneous rocks.
• These soils are prevalent in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan plateau.
• Yellow and red soils are also present in areas of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, the southern parts of the middle Ganga plain, and along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
• The reddish color of these soils results from the diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
• When these soils occur in a hydrated form, they appear yellow in color.

Laterite Soil

• The term "laterite" originates from the Latin word "later," meaning brick.
• Laterite soil forms in regions with a tropical and subtropical climate characterized by alternating wet and dry seasons.
• It results from intense leaching due to heavy rainfall.
• Lateritic soils are typically deep to very deep and tend to be acidic with a pH below 6.0.
• They are generally deficient in essential plant nutrients.
• These soils are mainly found in southern states, the Western Ghats region of Maharashtra, Odisha, certain parts of West Bengal, and the northeastern regions of India.
• In areas where lateritic soils support deciduous and evergreen forests, they tend to be rich in humus. However, in regions with sparse vegetation and a semi-arid environment, they are generally humus poor.
• Due to their position on the landscape, laterite soils are susceptible to erosion and degradation.
• Implementing appropriate soil conservation techniques, especially in the hilly areas of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, has made laterite soil useful for cultivating tea and coffee.
• Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala are particularly suitable for crops like cashew nuts.

 Arid Soils

• Arid soils exhibit a range of colors, from red to brown.
• They typically have a sandy texture and are saline in nature.
• In some areas, the salt content in these soils is very high, and common salt can be obtained by evaporating the water.
• Due to the dry climate, high temperatures, and rapid evaporation, arid soils lack humus (organic matter) and moisture.
• The lower layers of the soil contain Kankar due to increasing calcium content as you go deeper.
• The presence of Kankar layer formations in the lower layers hinders water infiltration.
• With proper irrigation, these soils can become suitable for cultivation, as seen in western Rajasthan.

Mountain (Forest) Soils

• Mountain soils are typically located in hilly and mountainous regions with abundant rainfall.
• The texture of these soils varies depending on the specific mountain environment where they form.
• In valley sides, they tend to be loamy and silty.
• On the upper slopes, they are coarse-grained.
• In snow-covered areas of the Himalayas, these soils experience denudation and are characterized by acidity and low humus content.
• In the lower parts of valleys, especially on river terraces and alluvial fans, these soils are fertile and suitable for agriculture.

Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation

• Soil erosion refers to the denudation and washing away of the soil cover. In other words “Soil erosion is the removal of soil cover.”
• Soil formation and erosion typically occur simultaneously, maintaining a balance. However, this balance can be disrupted by human activities like deforestation, over-grazing, construction, mining, and natural forces such as wind, glaciers, and water.

Types of Soil Erosion

• Water Erosion:
• Sheet Erosion: Occurs when a thin layer of topsoil is removed evenly over a large area due to rainfall or surface runoff.
• Rill Erosion: Involves the formation of small channels or rills in the soil due to concentrated water flow.
• Gully Erosion: More severe than rill erosion, it results in the formation of deep and larger channels, known as gullies in the landscape. Thus the land unsuitable for cultivation often referred to as "bad land." In the Chambal basin, such lands are termed ravines.

• Streambank Erosion: Soil erosion along riverbanks and streambanks caused by the force of flowing water.

• Wind Erosion: Occurs when strong winds lift and carry away loose soil particles, often in arid and semi-arid regions.
• Glacial Erosion: Caused by the movement of glaciers, which scrape and transport soil and rock materials as they advance and retreat.
• Coastal Erosion: Coastal areas are susceptible to erosion due to the actions of waves, tides, and currents that wear away shorelines.
• Tillage Erosion: This type of erosion happens when improper plowing and tilling practices disrupt the soil structure, leading to erosion.
• Deflation Erosion: Wind erosion that removes the fine particles of soil and leaves behind coarser materials like sand and gravel.
• Biological Erosion: Activities of burrowing animals, such as gophers and earthworms, can contribute to soil erosion.
• Human-Induced Erosion: This category includes erosion caused by human activities such as deforestation, construction, and mining.

Various Ways to Soil Conservation

• Contour Ploughing: Slowing Water Flow
• Contour ploughing involves ploughing along the contour lines of the land, which reduces the speed of water runoff down slopes.
• This method is employed to prevent soil erosion and is effective in hilly terrain.
• Terrace Cultivation: Erosion Control in the Himalayas
• Terrace cultivation is a farming practice commonly used in the Western and Central Himalayan regions.
• It involves creating terraces or flat, stepped fields on steep slopes to prevent soil erosion and improve agricultural productivity.
• Strip Cropping: Wind Erosion Prevention
• Strip cropping involves dividing a large field into strips and allowing strips of grass to grow between crops.
• This arrangement acts as a barrier to the force of wind, reducing soil erosion caused by wind.
• Shelter Belts: Stabilizing Sand Dunes and Deserts
• Shelter belts involve planting rows of trees to create windbreaks and provide shelter.
• This technique is particularly valuable in stabilizing sand dunes and combating desertification in western India.