Land is a natural resource, which covers around 30% of earth surface. The land is not flat. It is unevenly distributed on the earth, which includes mountains, plateaus, and plain area.
Uses of land
The land is used for many purposes such as for:
Mining
Agriculture
Forestry
Construction
Industries
Classification of land
Private land: this land is owned by individuals.
Community land: this land is owned by a community of people for collection of fruits, fodder etc.
Conservation of land resource
It is very important to conserve the land from degradation by less using fertilizers and pesticides, planting more trees, stopping overgrazing.
Soil
The tiny particles that we see on the surface of the earth is called soil it is formed from different types of rocks.
Factors affecting soil formation
Following are the factors that affect the soil formation:
Parent rock: It determines chemical properties texture colour and content of the soil.
Climate: It affects the weathering process and humus formation in the soil.
Relief: It includes attitude and slope that affects the formation of soil.
Time: It determines the thickness of soil after a period.
Flora, Fauna, and microorganisms: It also affects the humus formation in the soil.
Degradation of soil
The two main factors that degrades the soil are erosion and depletion. Various human activities such as use of plastics and chemical fertilizers degrade the soil.
Conservation of soil
The soil can be conserved by the following techniques:
Mulching: Organic matter such as straw is used to cover the open field prevent the wind from blowing away the soil.
Contour barriers: Grass and soil can be used to create barriers along the contour.
Rock dam: Rocks can be used to prevent the water from washing away all the soil.
Terrace farming: Flat stair-like structures are made for farming in hilly areas that prevents water from taking the soil down the slope.
Intercropping: Two different crops are grown in alternate rows to prevent the rainwater from taking all the soil away.
Contour ploughing: Parallel ploughing is done in hilly areas to prevent the water from going down the slope.
Shelter belts: The trees planted in a row act as a shelter belt that prevents the wind from blowing the soil away.
Water
Water is a renewable natural resource, which is necessary for the survival of everyone. 97% of water is found in oceans and sea only 3% of freshwater is found on the earth, out of which only 1% is suitable for human beings.
Uses of water
The water is used for various purposes such as for drinking, washing clothes, in industries, cooking food and for irrigation.
Conservation of water
It is very important to conserve water because it is necessary for our survival. The following methods can be used to conserve the water:
Proper treatment of sewage water must be ensured before releasing it into the river.
Rainwater harvesting must be promoted in dry regions.
Sprinkler or Drip irrigation system should be used for irrigation because it uses less water.
Restrictions must be put on the industries that do not filter the water before releasing it into the water bodies.
Biosphere
The narrow zone where lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere meet each other is called biosphere.
Ecosystem
The interdependency of organisms on each other for survival forms the ecosystem.
Natural vegetation
The trees, plants, grass, and forests together are called natural vegetation. The major type of natural vegetations are as follows:
Grassland
Forests
Tundra
Scrubs
Wildlife
The animals, insects and birds are called wildlife. These are necessary to maintain the balance in the ecosystem.
Conservation of natural vegetation
Natural vegetation can be conserved by:
Forcing law against deforestation.
Encouraging awareness programs in the country.
Planting more and more trees.
Creating Biosphere Reserves to protect the forest.
