Page 112 - SST Class 08

Land Utilisation in India

India is a large country with a dense population. The total geographical area of India is about 329 million
hectares but the figures available about land use are only about 305 million hectares.

Net sown Area sown more Forested Permanent Cultivable Not available
area than once area pastures wasteland for cultivation
46% 15% 22.5% 7% 6.5% 15%

Land is needed to produce food crops for people SOIL RESOURCE
and raw materials for industries. India has a high
percentage of arable land. Agriculture is the chief Soil is defined as the loose material consisting of
organic and inorganic substances covering the
occupation in India but the forest cover here is
low. Hence, proper land use planning is essential topmost layer of the earth. The organic matter
for optimum utilisation of land. contains biological plants and organisms, both
living and dead while the inorganic matter
Land Conservation contains water, air and minerals. Water present in
We have limited land resources on the earth. They the soil has dissolved
cannot be expanded. At the same time the nutrients while the air has
population is increasing, so we have to meet the high levels of gases such as
increasing demands also. Increasing demands for carbon dioxide and low levels
land and tough competition among its different of oxygen. Soil also contains
uses has led to large scale destruction of forest humus which is partially
cover, pastures and arable land. If we did not decomposed organic matter.
check the present rate of degradation of land Factors of Soil Formation
resources, it is feared that we may loose this
precious natural resource. It is our duty to take There are five factors which contribute in the
proper care of the available land and to use it the formation of soil :
maximum at minimum cost. This can be done Parent Rock
through conserving soils and forests, providing The parent rock from which the soil is formed,
irrigation facilities, adopting scientific techniques,
determines the colour, texture and mineral
increasing the use of manures and chemical content of the soil. For example, if the parent rock
fertilizers, and by checking the further spread of
is sandstone, it will contribute sandstone.
deserts.
Climate
Quiz Time
Climate controls the rate of weathering. Frequent
Complete the sentences :
temperature changes and ample precipitation
1. Land is used for many purposes such as quicken the soil formation through increased
______________. weathering and humus.
2. The land use pattern varies with Relief or Topography
______________.
Topography affects the drainage pattern of an
3. Around one-third of land is not suitable for area. For example, on a steep slope, water washes
______________. away the weathered material under the force of

4. Generally, fertile plains and river valleys support gravity while in plains it gets accumulated over
______________. time.
5. Agriculture is the chief occupation in India but Time
______________. Formation of soil is a slow process, hence it takes
Contemporary Social Science-8
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