Tag: soil erosion, soil conservation and uses of soil

Answer: A- 3; B- 4; C- 1; D- 2

Land use: Land is used for different purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses, roads and setting up of industries. This is known as land use.

Humus: Humus is defined as black organic matter formed in soil due to the decay of dead plant and animal matter.

Rock dams: These are the artificial embankments created by constructing mould of soil, clay, sand and rock. Main function is to prevent floods and soil erosion

Arable land: It is the land suitable for agriculture.

• Row of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement is called Shelter Belts.
  

The most appropriate method to verify soil erosion on steep slopes is terrace cultivation.Terrace farming is a method of farming whereby “steps” known as terraces are built onto the slopes of hills and mountains. When it rains, instead of rain carrying away the soil nutrients and plants down the slope, they flow to the next terrace. Every step has an outlet which channels water to the next step.

Over irrigation is main cause of land degradation in Punjab due to waterlogging leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh are the states facing issue of land degradation.

 Ploughing in a wrong way i.e. up and down the slope. It forms channels for the quick flow of water leading to soil erosion. 

1:The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is described as soil erosion. Wind blows loose soil off flat or sloping land known as wind erosion. It is very high in the state of Rajasthan.
2:It causes soil loss, dryness and deterioration of soil structure, nutrient and productivity losses and air pollution. Suspended dust and dirt is inevitably deposited over everything.

Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terrace cultivation restricts erosion. Western and central Himalayas have well developed terrace farming.