Chapter 1 - Resources and Development
Chapter 1 of Class 10 Geography introduces resources and their classification. Further, in the detailed chapter, you will learn about India's resource development and resource planning. You can know about the land resources of India and the classification of different soil types. Finally, this chapter discusses soil erosion and soil protection. All these topics are covered in detail in Vidyakul CBSE Notes Class 10 Geography Chapter 1 – Resources and Development. Take a look at these Vidyakul CBSE Class 10 Social Science Notes.
Resources
Anything in our environment that is technically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable that can be used to meet our needs is called a “resource”. Humans themselves are an integral part of the resource. They convert existing materials in the environment into resources and use them.
Classification of Resources
Resources can be classified in the following ways:
(a) by origin - biotic and abiotic
(b) by depletable - renewable and non-renewable
(c ) By Ownership - Individual, Community, National, and International
(d) Based on State of Development - Potential, Developed Stocks and Reserves
(a) On the Basis of Origin – Biotic and Abiotic
Biotic Resources are obtained from the biosphere and have life.
Eg: Human beings, flora, and fauna, fisheries, livestock, etc.
Abiotic Resources: All those things which are composed of non-living things are called abiotic resources.
Eg: rocks and metals.
(b) Based on Exhaustibility – Renewable and Non-Renewable
The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical, or mechanical processes are known as Renewable or Replenishable Resources. The renewable resource may further be divided into continuous or flow.
Eg: Solar and wind energy, water, forests, wildlife, etc.
Non-Renewable Resources occur over a very long geological time. These resources take millions of years for their formation. Some resources like metals are recyclable and some like fossil fuels cannot be recycled and get exhausted with their use.
Eg: Minerals and fossil fuels.
(c) Based on Ownership – Individual, Community, National, and International
Individual Resources are owned privately by individuals. In villages, people own lands whereas in urban areas people own plots, houses, and other properties.
Eg: Plantation, pasture lands, ponds, water in wells, etc.
Community Owned Resources are accessible to all the members of the community.
Eg: Grazing grounds, burial grounds, public parks, picnic spots, playgrounds, etc.
National Resources are owned by a nation or country. All the minerals, water resources, forests, wildlife, land within the political boundaries, and oceanic area up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the coast are termed as territorial water, and resources therein belong to the nation.Eg: Roads, canals, railways, etc.
International Resources are regulated by international institutions. The oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone belong to the open ocean and no individual country can utilize these without the concurrence of international institutions.
(d) Based on the Status of Development – Potential, Developed Stock and Reserves
Potential Resources are the resources that are found in a region but have not been utilized.
Eg: Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for the development of wind and solar energy, but so far these have not been developed properly.
Developed Resources: Resources that are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been determined for utilization. The development of resources depends on technology and the level of their feasibility. Materials in the environment that have the potential to satisfy human needs but human beings do not have the appropriate technology to access, are called stocks.
Eg: Hydrogen can be used as a rich source of energy. But we do not have advanced technology to use it.
Reserves are the subset of the stock, which can be put into use with the help of existing technical ‘know-how’ but their use has not been started. These can be used for meeting future requirements. Eg: Water in the dams, forests, etc. is a reserve that can be used in the future.
Development of resources
The indiscriminate use of resources by people has resulted in the following major problems.
Depletion of resources to satisfy the desires of a few individuals. The accumulation of resources by the hands of a few divided society into two segments, the rich and the poor.
leading to global ecological crises such as global warming, ozone depletion, pollution, and land degradation.
Resource planning is essential for the sustainable existence of all life forms. Sustainable economic development means that ``development should take place without harming the environment and current development should not undermine the needs of future generations.''
Resource Planning
several regions are considered as far as possible resource availability. Considered self-sufficient, several regions are experiencing severe shortages of important resources. This requires balanced resource planning at the federal, state, regional, and local levels.
Resource Planning in India
Resource planning is a complex process that involves:
(i) Identification and inventory of resources in areas of the country. This includes surveying, mapping, estimating, and measuring qualitative and quantitative resources.
(ii) Developing a planning structure with the appropriate technology, skills, and institutional set-up to implement the resource development plan.
(iii) Align resource development plans with national master development plans.
Resources can contribute to development only with appropriate technical development and institutional change. Since her first five-year plan was implemented after independence, India has made concerted efforts to achieve its resource planning goals.
Resource conservation is important on many levels to overcome the irrational consumption and abuse of resources.
Land Resources
Land is the most important natural resource. It supports natural vegetation, wildlife, human life, economic activity, transportation, and communication systems. India has land under a variety of relief features, namely; mountains, plateaus, plains, and islands as shown below:
Land Use
Land resources are used for:
a) Wasteland and wasteland
b) Non-agricultural land
Physical Factors: Terrain, Climate, Soil Type, etc.
Human Factors: Population Density, Technical Skills, Culture, and Traditions, etc.
Below of data represent land use patterns in India.
Fallow land is land given to other non-agricultural uses, including rocky areas, dry areas, desert areas, roads, railways, industry, etc. The result is continuous use of land for long periods of time without proper conservation and protection. Management measures during land degradation.
Land Degradation and Conservation
Human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, mining, and quarrying contribute significantly to land degradation. Mining sites bear the deep scars and marks of the country's overdevelopment. In recent years, industrial wastewater as waste has become a major source of land and water pollution in many parts of the country. The problem of land degradation includes
- Proper management of plantations and pastures.
- Planting of the plant protection zone.
- Stabilize dunes by planting thorn bushes.
- Proper management of wastelands.
- Control of mining activities.
- Professional drainage and disposal of post-treatment industrial wastewater and waste.
Soil as a Resource
Soil is the most important renewable natural resource. It is the medium for plant growth and supports many types of life on earth. Various forces of nature, such as changes in temperature, the effects of running water, wind, glaciers, and decomposer activity, contribute to soil formation.
Bedrock or bedrock, climate, vegetation and other organisms, and time are important factors in soil formation. The chemical and organic changes that occur in the soil play an important role. Soil is also composed of organic matter (humus) and inorganic matter.
Soil Classification
Based on the factors involved in soil formation, color, thickness, texture, age, chemical, and physical properties, Indian soils are classified into different types as shown below.
Alluvial
The northern plains are all alluvial. Alluvial soils are deposited by three major Himalayan river systems: the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers. It is also found in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the eastern coastal plains, especially in the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri deltas. Alluvial soils consist of varying proportions of sand, silt, and clay. Soil particles appear larger as they move inland towards the river valley, but the soil in the upper part of the river valley is coarser. Alluvial soils can be classified according to age as follows: New Alluial (Khadar): Has finer grains and is more prolific than Bangar. Alluvial soil is very fertile. These soils contain moderate levels of potash, phosphate, and lime, making them ideal for growing sugarcane, rice, wheat, and other grains and legumes.
Black soil
This soil is black and is also known as Regulu soil. Climatic conditions and host rock materials are important factors in the formation of black soil. Soil is suitable for growing cotton also called black cotton soil. This soil type is typical of the Deccan Traps area (basalt) on the northwestern Deccan Plateau and is composed of lava flows. The soil covers the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Marwa, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh and extends southeastward along the valleys of Godavari and Krishna. Black soil is composed of very fine particles. H. It is clayey and known for its ability to retain moisture. Black soil is highly nutritious and contains calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime.
Soil becomes sticky when wet and difficult to till unless tilled immediately after the first rain or during the pre-monsoon season.
Red and Yellow Soils
This type of soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern Deccan Plateau. These soils take on a reddish color due to the diffusion of iron into crystalline and metamorphic rocks. Appears yellow when hydrated. Chhattisgarh is Distributed along the Piedmont Zone of the Western Ghats, part of Orissa, and the southern part of the Middle Ganges Plain.
Lateritic Soils
Lateritic soils develop in tropical and subtropical climates with alternating wet and dry seasons. This soil is the result of heavy leaching from heavy rains. Lateritic soils are naturally acidic (pH < 6.0) and are generally poor in plant nutrients. Found in some, and northeastern regions. The soil supports deciduous and coniferous forests but is poor in humus. This soil is very suitable for growing tea and coffee.
Dry Soil
Dry soil varies in color from red to brown. This soil is generally sandy and highly saline. Some areas have very high salinity and salt is obtained by the evaporation of water.
Dry soil is devoid of humus and moisture. The lower layers of the soil are dominated by cankers, as the calcium content increases downwards. The formation of the Cancale formation below the horizon limits water intrusion.
Forest Soils
- These soils are found in hilly and mountainous areas.
- The soil texture is loamy and silty on the valley sides and coarse-grained on the upper slopes.
- In the snow-covered areas of the Himalayas, these soils experience denudation and are acidic with low humus content. The soil is fertile on the river terraces and alluvial fans.
The map below shows the different types of soils found in India.
Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation
Soil erosion is the removal and subsequent weakening of soil cover. Soil erosion is caused by human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, construction, and mining. There are also natural forces that cause soil erosion, such as wind, glaciers, and water. Soil erosion is also caused by incorrect agricultural practices.
Flowing water cuts through loamy soil, creating deep canyon-like channels. The land becomes uncultivable and is called bad land. Stratum erosion is when water flows down a slope over a wide area in layers and the topsoil is washed away. The wind blows loose soil off flat and sloping land known as wind erosion.
Various ways to protect the soil
Contour plowing slows the runoff of water on the slope. This is called a contour plow. Terrace cultivation limits erosion. This type of agriculture is practiced in the western and central Himalayas. Divide a vast field into strips and grow strips of grass between the crops. Then this breaks the wind force. This method is called strip cropping. Planting trees to create shelter stabilizes the dunes and stabilizes the deserts of the West Indies.
Frequently asked Questions on CBSE Class 10
Why are resources important?
Without resources, none of our needs would be satisfied. All raw materials are obtained from resources.
What are the type of resources?
Resources can be categorized into Natural, Human, and Human-made resources.
Why is soil considered a resource?
Soil is a form of environmental asset and provides several benefits for all species of life.
