Land -soil-water-natural vegetation-and wildlife resources

Land, soil, water, natural vegetation, and wildlife resources.

90 % of wold the population occupies only 30% of land areas.

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Land

Approx 30% of the total earth area is continents

Uneven distribution of population due to various characteristics of land and climate.

The following are responsible for the sparse population:

• Rugged topography steep slopes of the mountain.
• Low lying areas susceptible to waterlogging
• Desert area
• Thick Forest
• The dense population found in plain and rivers valleys that are suitable land for agriculture.

Land use:

The land is used for different purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, House building, road, and shelter.

Land used is determined by:

• Physical factors:
• Topography
• Soil
• Climate
• Minerals, 
• Availability of water.
• Human factors:
• Population
• Technology

Land use pattern in India:

• 57% cropland
• 4 % pasture
• 22% forest
• 17 % of others

India has the highest percentage of land used for agriculture.

Japan's land use:

• Cropland: 12%
• Pasture: 2%
• Forest: 67%
• Other: 19%

On the basis of ownership, land can be:

• Private land
• Community land

Private land:

Own by individual

Community land is own by the community for common purposes such as fodder, fruit, nuts, and medicinal resources.

Lands are limited and demand is increasing. People started encroaching the common land to built house complex in the urban areas and expand the agriculture land in rural areas.

A vast change in land use due to cultural changes in our society.

The following are a major threat to the environment because of the expansion of agriculture and construction activities:

• Land degradation,
• Landslide
• Soil erosion
• Desertification

Conservation of land resources:

Growing population and overgrown demand led to large scale destruction of forest cover and arable land.

The following are the conservation method:

• Afforestation
• Land reclamation
• Say no to " chemical pesticides and fertilizer'.
• Checks on overgrazing.

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Landslide:

It is simply defined as the mass movement of rocks, debris, and earth down a slope. They often take place in conjunction with earthquakes, floods, volcano, and heavy rainfall.

Mitigation mechanism:

The following are techniques:

• Hazard mapping: locate the landslide-prone area and avoid to make a human settlement in those areas.
• Construction of retention wall to stop the land from slipping.
• Increase the vegetation cover to prevent landslide.
• Surface drainage control helps control the movement of a landslide along with rainwater.

Soil:

• The thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface of the earth is called soil.
• Soil is made up of organic matters, minerals, weathering rock. Soil is made by the process. The right mix of minerals and organic matters makes the soil fertile.

Weathering:

The breaking up and decay of exposed rocks by temperature change, frost actions, plants, animal and human activities.

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Factors of soil formation:

The following are major factors:

• Nature of parent rocks
• Climatic factors
• Topography
• Role of organic matter
• Minerals factors
• Time is taken for composition.

Parent rocks:

Determined color, texture, chemical properties, minerals content, permeability.

Climate:

Temperature and rainfall influence the rate of humus formation and weathering.

Relief:

Altitude and slope determined the accumulation of soil.

Flora, fauna, and microorganisms: affect the rate of human formation.

Time:

Determined thickness of soil profile.

Types of soil in India:

• Alluvial
• Black soil
• Red soil
• Laterite soil
• Desertic soil
• Mountain soil

Soil degradation:

• Soil erosion and depletion are major threats to soil degradation.
• Deforestation
• Overgrazing
• Overuse of chemical fertilizer and pesticides
• Rain wash
• Landslide
• Flood.

Method of soil conservation:

• Mulching
• Contour barrier
• Rock dam
• Terrace farming
• Intercropping
• Contour Ploughing
• Shelters belts

Mulching:

The bare ground covered with organic matter like straw. It helps to retain soil moisture.

Contour barrier:

Stones, grass, and soil are used to built barriers along the contour.

Trenches are made in front of the contour to hold water.

Rock dam:

Rocks are piled up to slow down the flow of water. This prevents gullies and soil losses.

Terrace farming:

These are broad steps or made of flats terrace on the steep slope. It reduces surface runoff and soil erosion.

Intercropping:

Different crops are grown in alternate rows and sow at different times to protect the soil from rain wash.

Contour Ploughing:

Ploughing parallel to contour of hill slope to form natural barriers for water to flow down the slope.

Shelterbelts:

In the coastal and dry region, a row of a tree is planted to check the wind movement to protect soil cover.

Hierarchy of soil profile:

• Topsoil with hummus and vegetation
• Subsoil with sand, silt, and clay.
• Weathered rocks
• Parent rocks.

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Water;

• Ocean: 97.3 % of earth water
• Freshwater: 2.7 % out of this 70% ice sheet and glaciers found in Antarctic, Greenland, and mountain.
• Only 30 % of freshwater or .81% of earth water is available for potable.

Human use from:

• Ground Water.
• River
• Lakes
• Water vapor

In 1975, the consumption of water per person was: 3850 cubic per year.

In 2000, consumption rose to 6000 cubics per year.

Problems of water availability;

Water shortage may be a consequence of variations in seasonal and annual precipitation. The scarcity of water is caused by overexploitation and contamination of water sources.

Natural vegetation and wildlife:

• Natural vegetation and wildlife are only found in the biosphere.
• In the biosphere, living being is interrelated and interdependent on others for survival. This life support system is known as an ecosystem.

Uses of plants:

• Plants provide:
• Timber
• Give shelter to animal
• Produce oxygen we breathe
• Protect soil from degradation.
• Acts shelter belt against soil erosion.
• Help the storage of underground water.
• Give us fruit, food, oil, and gum.
• Medicine
• Industrial input for paper.

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Wildlife:

They provide:

• Milk, meat, wool
• Insect like bee provides honey.
• Help pollination of flowers and have an important role to play as decomposes.

Distribution of natural vegetation:

The growth of vegetation depends on temperature and moisture

The major vegetation types:

• Forest
• Grassland
• Scrubs
• Tundra

Forest:

• Evergreen
• Deciduous

Conservation of natural vegetation and wildlife:

Change of climate and human interference can cause the loss of natural habitat for plants and animals.

The following are human and natural factors responsible for the extinction of natural resources:

• Deforestation
• Soil erosion
• Construction activities
• Forest fires
• Tsunami and landslide
• Poaching led to a sharp declining in particular species. Poaching
• Is illegal trade of hides, skin, nails, teeth, horn

For the protection of natural vegetation and wildlife:

• Natural parks
• Wildlife sanctuary
• Biosphere
• Conservation of creeks
• Lakes
• Wetlands
• Awareness programs like social forestry and Vanomahotsav.

CITES:

Conservation of international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. Trade prohibited for several animals and birds.

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