Class
10 Geography
Chapter
1- Resources and Development
(Notes)
·
·
1.
Define Resources
A
'Resource' is defined as anything in our environment that can be exploited to
meet our needs while also being technologically accessible, economically
practical, and culturally acceptable.
2.
Classification of Resources
Resources
can be classified as:
a) On the basis of origin – biotic and abiotic
b) On the basis of
exhaustibility – renewable and non-renewable
c) On the basis of ownership
– individual,
community, national and international
d) On the basis of the
status of development – potential, developed stock, and reserves.
3. Define following terms
a) Biotic Resources:: These are derived from
the biosphere and include life forms such as humans, plants, wildlife,
fisheries, and so on.
b) Abiotic Resources:: An abiotic resource is
anything composed of nonliving materials such as rocks and dirt.
c) Renewable Resources: Renewable (or
replenishable) resources are those that can be replenished or reproduced
through physical, chemical, or mechanical processes, such as solar and wind
energy, water, forests and wildlife, and so on. Renewable resources can be
further classified as continuous or flow.
d) Nonrenewable
Resources:
These resources are finite. They take millions of years to develop. For
example, minerals and fossil fuels.
e) Individual Resources: These are privately owned
by individuals. Individual resource ownership encompasses plantations, pasture
areas, ponds, agricultural land, wells, and more.
f) Community Resources: These are resources that
are shared by all members of the community, such as grazing fields, burial
sites, village ponds, public parks, playgrounds, and so on.
g) National Resources: The country's resources,
which are held by states and controlled by governments. Minerals, rivers,
woods, animals, and the marine region up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from
the shore, collectively known as territorial water and its resources.
h) International
Resources:Certain
resources are overseen by international organisations. For example, oceans
larger than 200 nautical miles. No country may use them without the approval of
an international body.
i) Potential Resources: These are untapped resources present
in a particular region. For instance, the western regions of India,
particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat, hold significant potential for the
development of wind and solar energy. However, they remain undeveloped as of
now.
j) Developed
Resources: These are
resources that have been assessed, and their quality and quantity have been
determined for utilization. The utilization of resources is influenced by
technological advancements and their sustainability.
k) Stock: Stock refers to environmental
materials with the potential to fulfill human needs, yet lack the necessary
technology for utilization. For example, Hydrogen is a valuable energy source,
but advanced technology is required to harness its potential.
l) Reserves: Reserves are a subset of the stock
that can be used with the appropriate technological expertise but has not been
utilized. These reserves can be tapped into to meet future requirements. For
instance, water stored in dams, forests, and other water sources represents a
reserve that can be utilized in the future.
4. Resource Planning
Planning is widely recognised as the most effective
method for maximising resource utilisation. There are areas in India that are
wealthy in some resources but impoverished in others. Certain regions can be
considered self-sufficient in terms of resource availability, whilst others
have acute shortages of vital resources. This demands balanced resource
planning on the national, state, regional, and local levels.
5. Resource Planning in India
Resource
planning is a complex undertaking that encompasses:
- Identifying and cataloging
resources throughout the country. This involves gathering data, creating
maps, and providing both quantitative and qualitative estimates and
measurements of resources.
- Formulating a planning framework
equipped with the necessary technology, skills, and institutional
infrastructure to execute resource development plans effectively.
- Aligning resource development
strategies with long-term national development objectives.
Since the
inception of the First Five Year Plan following independence, India has
actively pursued coordinated efforts to realize its resource planning
objectives. The mere availability of resources may impede progress without
parallel advancements in technology and institutions. Resources, when
accompanied by appropriate technological advancements and institutional
adjustments, significantly contribute to development.
It is crucial
to emphasize resource conservation at various levels to overcome irrational
consumption and the over-utilization of resources.
6. Need of development of
Resources
Resources play a crucial role in human life;
nevertheless, their indiscriminate utilization has given rise to various
problems, including:
- The
concentration of resource control in the hands of a few has led to
societal divisions between the rich and the poor.
- The
excessive consumption of resources to fulfill the greed of a select few
individuals.
- The
widespread environmental issues such as global warming, ozone depletion,
pollution, and land degradation that have ensued.
Ensuring a fair and equitable use of resources has become
imperative for the long-term well-being and global harmony. However, the
unilateral elimination of resources by certain individuals or nations poses a
potential threat to the planet. Resource planning is essential for the
sustainable coexistence of diverse life forms, and Sustainable Economic
Development entails progress that occurs without causing harm to the
environment. Development in the present should not compromise the well-being of
future generations.
.
7.
Land Resources
The land is a valuable natural resource, but it is a
finite property; so, it is critical to use the existing land for a variety of
uses while exercising caution. India has a variety of relief features,
including mountains, plateaus, plains, and islands.
8. Different
uses of land resources
1.
Forests
2.
Land
that is not suitable for farming
a)
Barren and
Wasteland
b)
Land put
out for non-agricultural uses
3.
Fallow lands
4.
Other
uncultivated lands which exclude fallow land
5.
Net Sown area
9. Waste land
Waste land refers to land that has been designated for
non-agricultural purposes, such as rocky, arid, and desert regions, highways,
trains, and so on. Land degradation occurs when a land resource is used
continuously over an extended period of time without suitable management and
conservation measures in place.
10. Land Degradation and Conservation
(i) Reasons of land degradtion
a) deforestation,
b) overgrazing,
c) mining, and extraction
(ii) Some methods to resolve land
degradation issues:
1.
Afforestation
2.
adequate
grazing maintenance.
3.
Planting of
plant shelter zones.
4.
Sand dunes are
stabilized by the growth of prickly shrubs.
5.
Wastelands must
be managed properly.
6.
Mining activity
supervision.
11. Soil as
a Resource
Soil is the loose surface material that covers most land. It consists of inorganic particles and organic matter.
(i) Factors responsible for soil formation
a)
Parent rocks
b)
Climate
c)
organisms
d)
topography
e) Time.
12. Classification
of Soils
India possesses a diverse array of environmental
characteristics, encompassing varied landforms, climate zones, and types of
flora. These factors have played a role in the formation of distinct soil
characteristics, including color, thickness, texture, and age. The soils of
India can be categorized as follows:
Alluvial Soils:
- Widely
distributed and significant, covering the entire northern plains and
extending into regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the eastern coastal
plains.
- Deposited
by major Himalayan river systems: Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra.
- Comprising
sand, silt, and clay, alluvial soils are classified based on age into Old
Alluvial (Bangar) and New Alluvial (Khadar).
- Known for
fertility and suitable for crops like sugarcane, paddy, wheat, and pulses.
Black Soil:
- Also known
as regur soils, ideal for cotton cultivation.
- Formed by
specific parent rock material and climatic conditions.
- Extends
southeast along the Godavari and Krishna basins, covering plateaus in
Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
- Composed
of fine clayey minerals, renowned for moisture retention.
- Rich in
nutrients like calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime.
- Found in
the Deccan Trap region, characterized by a sticky nature.
Red and Yellow Soils:
- Form on
crystalline igneous rocks in low-rainfall sections of the Deccan plateau.
- Found in
regions like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, the southern Ganga plain, and the
Piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
- Reddish
color due to iron diffusion in crystalline and metamorphic rocks; turns
yellow when hydrated.
Laterite Soils:
- Develop in
tropical and subtropical climates with alternating wet and dry seasons.
- Formed
through extensive leaching in areas with heavy rainfall.
- Mainly
deep, acidic (pH 6.0), and low in plant nutrients; found in southern
states, the Western Ghats, Odisha, parts of West Bengal, and Northeastern
states.
- Suitable
for tea and coffee cultivation but deficient in humus.
Arid Soils:
- Sandy and
salty in character, with a red to brown color.
- Evaporation
occurs rapidly due to dry environments and high temperatures, resulting in
a lack of humus and moisture.
- Kankar,
with rising calcium concentration downwards, occupies the lower layer.
Forest Soils:
- Found in
hilly and mountainous areas with abundant rainforest.
- Valley
sides are loamy and silty, while top slopes are coarse-grained.
- Soil
texture varies based on the alpine environment.
- Fertile
soils are present in lower valleys, particularly on river terraces and
alluvial fans.
13. Soil
Erosion and Soil Conservation
Soil erosion is defined as the degradation of
the soil cover and subsequent washing away.
Reasons of soil erosion
(i) Human activities
a) deforestation
b) overgrazing
c) building
d) mining
e) Defective agricultural techniques
(ii) Natural Factors
a) wind,
b) glaciers
c) water.
14. Define Gullies, Ravine, Sheet
erosion, Wind erosion
Running water
bursts through the clayey soils, creating deep channels known as gullies.
The area has become unsuitable for agriculture and is known as bad land.
Such areas are
referred to as ravines in the Chambal basin.
Water can
sometimes drain away soil from significant areas of the slope. This is known as
sheet erosion.
Wind erosion happens when the wind carries loose
soil.
15. Different methods for Soil
Conservation
1. Ploughing
along contour lines reduces water flow down hills. This is referred to as
contour ploughing.
2. Terrace
cultivation prevents erosion. This type of farming is employed in the Western
and Central Himalayas.
3. When a large
field is divided into strips, grass can grow in between crops. This then
divides the wind's force. Strip cropping is the name given to this method.
4. Planting
tree lines for cover helps stabilise sand dunes in western Indian desert.
Shelter Belts are rows of these trees.
