Test: Land Soil Water Natural And Wildlife Resources- 3 - UPSC MCQ

Answer:
B: Community lands are owned by the community for common uses like collection of fodder, fruits or medicinal herbs
Explanation:
- Community lands are owned collectively by the community.
- These lands are used for common purposes such as collecting fodder, fruits, or medicinal herbs.
- The ownership of community lands does not belong to an individual, but to the entire community.
- Community lands are managed and utilized based on the needs and requirements of the community as a whole.
- The purpose of community lands is to serve the common interests and welfare of the community members.
- Therefore, statement B is true with respect to lands.

Factors that affect soil formation. Soils form from the interplay of five main factors namely Parent material, Time, Climate, Relief and Organisms. Parent material: Soils will carry the characteristics of its parent materialsuch as color, texture, structure, mineral composition and so on.

Terrace farming involves creating broad flat steps on steep slopes, which reduces surface runoff and soil erosion, making the land more suitable for agriculture.

Correct Answer - Option D

Australia -56% Pasture Land

Pasture means land covered with grass and other low plants suitable for grazing animals, especially cattle or sheep.

 

Reasons why land degradation, landslides, soil erosion, desertification, etc are major threats to the environment:
1. Expansion of agriculture and construction activities:
- Agriculture and construction activities often require clearing of land and altering its natural state.
- This leads to deforestation, habitat destruction, and disruption of natural ecosystems.
- The removal of vegetation cover and soil disturbance increases the risk of land degradation, landslides, soil erosion, and desertification.
2. Growing demands of people:
- As the population grows, the demand for resources such as food, water, and shelter increases.
- This leads to the need for more land for agriculture and construction, which in turn contributes to land degradation and other environmental issues.
- The pressure to meet these demands often results in unsustainable practices that degrade the land and its natural resources.
3. Limited availability of land:
- Land is a finite resource, and its availability for agriculture and construction is limited.
- As more land is utilized for human activities, the remaining suitable land becomes scarce.
- This can lead to the exploitation of marginal lands that are prone to degradation, increasing the risks to the environment.
4. Superior quality of land used for cultivation:
- High-quality agricultural land is often targeted for cultivation due to its fertility and productivity.
- However, the intensive use of such land without proper land management practices can deplete its nutrients, degrade the soil structure, and increase the vulnerability to erosion and degradation.
5. Lack of suitable, planned, and scientific cultivation methods:
- Improper land management practices, such as overgrazing, improper irrigation, and excessive use of agrochemicals, can accelerate land degradation.
- Lack of awareness and implementation of sustainable cultivation methods further exacerbates the threats to the environment.
Overall, land degradation, landslides, soil erosion, desertification, and similar issues pose significant threats to the environment due to the expansion of agriculture and construction activities, growing demands of people, limited availability of land, exploitation of superior quality land, and the lack of proper cultivation methods. It is crucial to adopt sustainable land management practices and raise awareness about the importance of preserving and restoring our land resources for a healthy and sustainable environment.

A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. Landslides are a type of "mass wasting," which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity.

Cropland is the land used for growing crops. therefore from the above table India has the highest value of cropland hence it uses the max land for cultivation.

Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil, usually the top 5–10 inches (13–25 cm). It has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms and is where most of the Earth's biological soil activity occurs. Topsoil is composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air. Organic matter varies in quantity on different soils.

A critical challenge in maintaining water resources is their overuse and pollution, which make water unfit for use and reduce the availability of clean water for essential activities.

Land degradation refers to the decline in the productivity of cultivated land or forest land. It is a complex process that involves the deterioration of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the land. Here are some key points to understand the concept:
1. Definition: Land degradation refers to the long-term loss of soil productivity and ecosystem services due to various factors such as unsustainable land use practices, deforestation, overgrazing, urbanization, and climate change.
2. Causes: Land degradation can be caused by both natural and human-induced factors. Natural factors include erosion, weathering, and climate change, while human-induced factors include deforestation, overexploitation of resources, improper irrigation practices, and pollution.
3. Effects: Land degradation has significant impacts on the environment, society, and economy. Some of the effects include reduced agricultural productivity, loss of biodiversity, increased soil erosion, desertification, water scarcity, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters.
4. Prevention and mitigation: To address land degradation, various measures can be taken:
- Sustainable land management practices, such as terracing, contour plowing, crop rotation, and agroforestry, can help prevent soil erosion and improve soil fertility.
- Reforestation and afforestation programs can help restore degraded lands and promote biodiversity conservation.
- Implementing sustainable agricultural practices, such as organic farming and integrated pest management, can reduce the use of synthetic inputs and protect soil health.
- Land-use planning and zoning regulations can help prevent the conversion of productive lands into urban areas or industrial zones.
- Awareness campaigns and education programs can promote responsible land use practices among farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders.
5. Global initiatives: The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include targets to combat land degradation, restore degraded lands, and achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030. Additionally, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) aims to address land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas.
In conclusion, land degradation refers to the decline in the productivity of cultivated land or forest land due to various factors. It is a global environmental issue that requires collective efforts to prevent and mitigate its impacts.

The use of land is determined by physical factors such as topography, soil,climate, minerals and availability of water. Human factors such as population density, available of capital and technology are also important determinants of land use pattern.

The soil is arranged in layers or horizons during its formation. These layers or horizons are known as the soil profile. It is the vertical section of the soil that is exposed by a soil pit. The layers of soil can easily be identified by the soil colour and size of soil particles. The different layers of soil are:

• Topsoil
• Subsoil
• Parent rock
   

Trees, grasses, and vegetation can minimize the amount of water infiltrating into the soil, slow the erosion caused by surface-water flow, and remove water from the soil. So decrease in vegetation can cause landslide.

Time is one of those factors which determines the quality of soil formation.

The correct option is D.
The factors responsible for degradation of land include excessive exploitation of land, deforestation,desertification, landslides,  clearing fertile land for settlements, slashing and burning the trees for agriculture, abandoned mining sites and surface mining, toxicity in the landfill, untreated industrial effluents and concretisation.