Types of Resources
* The things available in our environment that can be used to satisfy a requirement are called resources.
* Things available in our environment become resources only when human being find a way to transform them into a useful form.
For things to become a resource:
* Suitable technology must exist to transform it into some useful form.
* Its use must be financially viable and culturally acceptable.
* Resources can be classified based on their origin, exhaustibility, ownership and status of development.
*Defective farming methods, like ploughing up and down a slope, increase the rate of soil erosion.
The different resources are:
* Biotic resources
* A biotic resources
* Renewable resources
* Non renewable resources
* Individual resources
* Community-owned resources
* National resources
* International resources
* Developed resources
* Potential resources
* Resources that cannot be used due to the availability of suitable technology, but may be used in the future, are called stock.
* Resources that can be used today, but are preserved to meet future requirements, are called reserves.
Development and planning of resources
* Sustainable development means using resources wisely without damaging the environment and keeping in mind the need of future generations.
Indiscrimination use of resources leads to:
* A rapid depletion of resources
* An economic divide in society.
* Environmental and ecological problems.
Agenda 21 aims to:
* Prevents damage to the environment.
* Fights poverty and disease.
* Encourage local governments to form their own Agenda 21 based on local issues.
Resources Planning involves:
* Identifying and estimating available the resources available through surveying and mapping.
* Evolving technology, skilled personnel and institutions to implement resources development plans.
* Continuously monitoring and guiding resources development plans to match the overall national development goals
* Irresponsible and over-use of resources can lead to several social, economic and environmental problems.
Land resources
* India is the 7th largest country in the world with a geographical area of about 3.28 million sq.km.
Out of the total land area of India:
* 43% is plain
* 30% is mountains
* 27% is plateau region
* Depending on their use, our land resources can be classified as forests, net sown area, follow
* Land, other uncultivated land and land not available for cultivation
* The area under forests is way below the required 33% as planned in the national forests policy.
* Disposal of solid and liquid waste by industries on surrounding land or water bodies has also
* Become a major cause of land degradation and water pollution.
Some steps for land conservation are:
* A forestation
* Controlled grazing and mining activity
* Stabilization of sand dunes
* Proper disposal of industrial effluents after treatment.
* Continuous monitoring of soil conditions.
Soil as a resource
Soil is formed over millions of year by weathering of rock by natural agents like
variation in temperature, wind, glaciers and running water.
Basics for classification of soil are:
* Physical and chemical
* Age
* Texture
* Color
Different types of soils in India are:
* Alluvial
* Black soil
* Red and yellow soil
* Laterite soil
* Forest soil
Soil erosion and conservation
* The loss of soil cover due to natural agents like wind and running water is called soil erosion.
* The roots of plants and trees keep the soil moist and hold the soil particles together.
Human destroy vegetation cover by:
* Deforestation
* Overgrazing
* Mining activities
* Without vegetation cover, soil becomes dry and loose, and gets easily eroded.
* Defective farming methods, like ploughing up and down a slope, increase the rate of soil.
* The formation of deep channels in clay soils by running water is called gully erosion.
* The washing away of the entire sheet of top soil in a region by water is called sheet erosion.
* Soil conservation is the prevention of soil erosion
Methods of soil conservation are
* Terrace farming
* Contour ploughing
* Strip cropping
* Shelter belts
* Terrace farming and ploughing land along contour lines reduce the speed of water flowing down
* The slope and help in soil conservation.
* In strip cropping, strips of grass standing between crops reduce the force of wind and thus prevent soil erosion.
* Shelter belts of trees help in soil conservation by breaking the force of wind and stabilizing sand dunes near farmland.