2. Laterite has been derived from the
Latin word ‘later’ which means brick.
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
LATERITE SOIL
The laterite soil develops in
areas with high temperature
and heavy rainfall.
This is the result of intense
leaching due to heavy rain.
Due to heavy rainfall, the lime &
silica in the lateritic rocks dissolve in
the rainwater and are washed away
3. Humus content of the soil is low because
most of the micro organisms, particularly
the decomposers, like bacteria, get
destroyed due to high temperature.
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
LATERITE SOIL Laterite soils are suitable for
cultivation with adequate doses
of manures and fertilizers.
4. CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
LATERITE SOIL
INDIA
N
Laterite soil
These soils are mainly found in Karnataka,
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and
the hilly areas of Odisha and Assam
5. Tea
Coffee
After adopting appropriate soil
conservation techniques
particularly in the hilly areas of-
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
LATERITE SOIL
Karnataka
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
This soil is very
useful for growing-
6. Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are more
suitable for crops like cashew nut.
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
LATERITE SOIL
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
Andhra Pradesh
7. Write a note on the laterite soil.
(i) The laterite soil develops in areas with high temperature and
heavy rainfall. This is the result of intense leaching due to
heavy rain.
(ii) Humus content of the soil is low because most of the micro
organisms, particularly the decomposers, like bacteria, get
destroyed due to high temperature.
(iii) Laterite soils are suitable for cultivation with adequate doses
of manures and fertilizers.
(iv) These soils are mainly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha and Assam.
8. Arid soils range from red
to brown in colour.
They are generally sandy in
texture and saline in nature.
In some areas the salt
content is very high
and common salt is obtained
by evaporating the water.
Due to the dry climate,
high temperature
evaporation is faster and the
soil lacks humus and moisture
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
ARID SOILS
9. The lower horizons of the
soil are occupied by Kankar
because of the increasing
calcium content downwards.
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
ARID SOILS
Lets
understand
Soil Horizons
10. If you observe a soil section from the
ground surface to the hard rock at a
depth you will find different layers
These layers are called soil
horizons.
The top layer contains litter
and roots of plants.
In the layer below it, you will find
partially or totally decomposed
organic material.
The next layer contains
small pieces of rock.
The lowest layer is that
of unweathered rock.
A soil with well developed
horizons is called a mature soil.
An enormous period of time
is required for the formation
of such a soil.
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
ARID SOILS
11. CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
ARID SOILS
In arid soil, the Kankar layer
formations in the bottom horizons
restrict the infiltration of water.
12. After proper irrigation these soils
become cultivable as has been in
the case of western Rajasthan.
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
ARID SOILS
13. These soils are found in hilly and
mountainous areas where
sufficient rain forests are available.
The soils texture varies according
to the mountain environment
where they are formed.
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
FOREST SOILS
14. They are loamy and silty in valley sides
Loamy means the soil has equal
proportion of sand and clay
Silt refers to fine sand, clay, or
other material carried by running
water and deposited as a sediment
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
FOREST SOILS
and coarse grained in the upper slopes.
15. In the snow covered areas of Himalayas
these soils experience denudation and
are acidic with low humus content.
The soils found in the lower parts of
the valleys particularly on the river
terraces and alluvial fans are fertile.
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
FOREST SOILS
River Terrace
If you observe a soil section from the
ground surface to the hard rock at a
depth you will find different layers
17. Alluvial Fans
But as soon as the
river enters the
plains, which is a wide
area
the alluvium carried
by the river is abruptly
deposited here
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
FOREST SOILS
18. Deforestation
Over- grazing
Construction
Mining
SOIL EROSION AND SOIL CONSERVATION
The denudation of the soil cover
and subsequent washing down is
described as soil erosion.
and generally there is a
balance between the two.
The processes of soil formation &
erosion, go on simultaneously
Sometimes, this balance is disturbed
due to human activities like-
19. are also responsible for erosion
SOIL EROSION AND SOIL CONSERVATION
While natural forces like-
Wind
Glacier
Water
20. SOIL EROSION AND SOIL CONSERVATION
The running water cuts through
the clayey soils and makes deep
channels as gullies.
The land becomes unfit
for cultivation and is
known as bad land.
In the Chambal basin such
lands are called ravines
21. Sometimes water flows as a sheet
over large areas down a slope.
In such cases the top
soil is washed away.
SOIL EROSION AND SOIL CONSERVATION
This is known as sheet erosion.
22. Ploughing along the contour lines can
reduce the flow of water down the slopes.
This is called contour ploughing.
Steps can be cut out on the
slopes making terraces.
Terrace cultivation restricts erosion.
Western & central Himalayas have
well developed terrace farming.
SOIL EROSION AND SOIL CONSERVATION
23. Strip cropping
Shelter Belts Large fields can be divided into strips.
This breaks up the force of the wind.
Strips of grass are left to
grow between the crops.
Planting lines of trees to create
shelter also works in a similar way.
Rows of such trees are
called shelter belts.
These shelter belts have
contributed significantly to the
stabilisation of sand dunes and in
stabilising the desert in western
India.
This method is known as strip cropping.
SOIL EROSION AND SOIL CONSERVATION
24. Describe the steps which could be taken to control land degradation.
There are several measures or steps of controlling land degradation, a few of them
can be identified as follows :
(i) Terrace Farming : On the hills, construction of terraces like steps or stairs
can prevent soil-erosion. These reduce the speed of running water.
(ii) Afforestation : Roots of the plants hold the soil particles together, they also
check the speed of the running water.
(iii) Check-Dams : Check-dams prevent the spread of gullies. By plugging one
end of a gully, sediments carried away by water are deposited in the gully.
When a gully is filled, the soil is restored.
(iv) Shelter-belts : Shelter-belts of trees along the banks of rivers and streams
reduce the speed of water and thus check land degradation.
(v) Moisture conservation and weed control in agriculture lands.
(vi) Proper management of waste lands.
(vii) Control of mining activities.
(viii) Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment.
26. 1. Resources should be ______________ feasible.
A. Economically B. Politically C. Culturally D. Socially
2. On the basis of ___________. the resources are divided into individual, community,
national and international.
A. Ownership B. Origin C. Status D. Development
3. Village grazing grounds, burial grounds village ponds etc. are _____________ resources.
A. National B. International C. Community D. Individual
4. The oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of the exclusive economic zone are
___________ resources.
A. National B. International C. Community D. Individual
5. Resources which are found in the region but have not been utilized fully are
___________ resources.
A. Potential B. Developed C. Stock D. Reserve
27. 6. Land other than the current fallow lands are cultivated once or
twice in about ______________ years.
A. One or two B. One to five C. Three or four D. Four or five
7. There are many ways to solve the problems of ___________ degradation.
A. Land B. Forest C. Mountain D. Water
8. The mineral processing like grinding of ___________ for cement industry and calcite
and soap – stone for ceramic industry generate huge quantity of dust.
A. Lime stone B. Granite C. Sand stone D. Scale
9. In Madhya Pradesh and Odisha deforestation due to ___________ have caused
severe land degradation.
A. Mining B. Wind C. Water D. Erosion
28. 10. Total geographical area of India is 3.28 million sq .km but land use data
however is available for ___________ percent only.
A. 90 B. 91 C. 92 D. 93
11. Red soil develops on ___________ rock in areas of low rainfall.
A. Sedimentary B. Crystalline igneous C. Hard D. Soft
12. ___________ soil is red in colour.
A. Red and yellow B. Alluvial C. Regur D. Forest
13. The black soil develops cracks during the ___________ season.
A. Winter B. Summer C. Rainy D. Retreating monsoon
14. Black soil is made up of ___________ materials.
A. Sand B. Silt C. Clay D. Stones
15. ___________ soil is black in colour.
A. Alluvial B. Black C. Red D. Yellow
29. 16. The ___________ have contributed significantly to the stabilization of sand dunes.
A. Strip cropping B. Contour bunding C. Shelter belts D. Plugging gullies
17. Soil erosion is also caused due to defective methods of ___________
A. Growing B. Farming C. Sowing D. Reaping
18. Sometime water flows as a ___________ over large areas down a slope.
A. Ravine B. Gully C. Sheet D. Rill
19. ___________. are formed due to water erosion.
A. Gullies B. Sheets C. Mountain D. Valleys
20. The process of soil ___________ and erosion go on simultaneously.
A. Denudation B. Formation C. Accumulation D. Deposition
