Resources and Development
Geography • Class 10 Social Science • NCERT • CBSE
Resources are everything available in the environment that satisfies human needs. They can be natural or human-made, biotic or abiotic, renewable or non-renewable. Soil is the most important natural resource — India has eight major soil types, with alluvial soil being the most widespread.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the types of resources based on exhaustibility?
- Renewable resources: Can be replenished naturally — solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, water, forest (if sustainably managed). Non-renewable resources: Finite, exhausted when used — coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore. Distinction matters for conservation planning — non-renewables must be used carefully.
- What is alluvial soil and why is it the most important soil in India?
- Alluvial soil is deposited by rivers (Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries). It covers about 40% of India's land area (mainly Northern Plains). It is the most productive agricultural soil — highly fertile, well-drained, easy to till. Supports major crops: wheat, rice, sugarcane, pulses. Two types: Khadar (newer, more fertile) and Bhangar (older, less fertile).
- How can soil erosion be prevented?
- Methods: (1) Contour ploughing — plough along contour lines, not downslope. (2) Terrace farming — cut horizontal steps on hillsides. (3) Strip cropping — alternate strips of crops and grass. (4) Shelter belts — plant trees in rows to reduce wind erosion. (5) Afforestation — plant trees on barren land. (6) Check dams — slow water flow and trap soil. (7) Banning overgrazing.
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