ICSE Geography Solution : Soil Resource (Part –I)

ICSE Geography

Soil Resource (Part –I)

Question/Answer

Short question-Answer:-

Q-1) What is soil?

Ans. > Soil is the topmost layer of the Earth's land surface. It is the thin layer of a loose mixture of small rock particles and rotting organic matter which covers much of the land.

Q-2)  How the soil is formed?

Ans. > Soil is formed by the various forces of nature such as changing temperature, running water and wind affect.

Q-3)   Soil fertility refers to what?

Ans. >  Soil fertility refers to the strength of the soil to support plant life.

Q-4) How we can improve soil fertility?

Ans. > We can improve soil fertility by adding fertilizers to the soil to make up for the missing nutrients.

Q-5)   How the soil is classified?

Ans. > Soil is classified into four divisions:-

1.  Alluvial soil
2.  Black soil
3.  Red soil
4.  Laterite soil

Q-6)  Why black soil is also known as lava soil?

Ans. >  Black soil is also known as lava soil since it is formed by the denudation of volcanic rocks.

Q-7) based on its age, alluvial soil is divided into two types, What are they?

Ans. > Alluvial soil is divided into two types based on its age they are:-

1.  Bhangar  and,
2.  Khadar.

Q-8)   Give two characteristics of alluvial soil?

Ans. > One characteristic of alluvial soil is:-

• It is light and porous, therefore easily tillable.

• It is fertile soil as it is rich in minerals, especially potash and lime.

Q-9)    What is soil conservation?

Ans. > Soil conservation meAns. prevention of soil loss from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility of soil caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other types of soil contamination.

Q-10)   Give two characteristics of laterite soil?

Ans. >  The two characteristics of laterite soil are:-

• It is of coarse texture, soft and friable.

• It is considered suitable for building purposes.

Define the terms:-

1. Sheet Erosion: It occurs on gentle slopes and is the slow removal of a thin layer of soil when vegetation is destroyed. Rainwater washes away the thin layer of bare soils.

2. Rill Erosion: When sheet erosion continues for long, the silt-laden run-off from many finger-shaped rills or grooves over a large area. This is called rill erosion.  

3. Gully Erosion: It is seen in the Chambal valley region. As it makes the water very muddy. During a heavy downpour, deep gullies are made on bare soils on account of water run-off. Gully erosion removes nutrients and a heavy load of loose soils, making the soil unproductive.

4. Leaching:  After harvesting, farmers leave the soils bare for some time. During rainfall, the nutrients in the soil are leached or percolated below the top layer. 

5. Stream Bank Erosion: Streams and rivers change their courses by cutting one bank and depositing the silt loads on the other. During flash floods, the damage is accelerated. Stream Bank Erosion is prevalent in the flood plains of Gang, Yamuna and other rivers.

6. Soil Erosion: the removal of the topsoil cover by water, wind and human activities is called soil erosion.

7. Wind Erosion: It is referred to as the movement and of soil particles by wind.

8. Residual Soil: These are formed ‘in situ as they are formed in the original position by breaking up of parent rocks. They include black soil, red soil, etc.

9. Transported Soil: these soil are 'ex-situ', that is trAns.ported by various agents of erosion and consist of sediments carried and deposited by rivers and winds.

10. Soil Conservation: Soil conservation meAns. prevention of soil loss from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility of soil caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other types of soil contamination.

Differentiate between the following:-

1. Bhangar Soil and Khadar Soil

Bhangar Soil	Social Media
Old alluvial soils, known as Bhangar, occupy the largest part of the northern plains.	The area is northern plains that lie, below flood level made up of khadar.
Bhangar is above the flood levels of rivers and presents a terrace-like structure.	Khadar is younger alluvium as floodwaters deposit new layers every year.
Bhangar is full of kantars (lime nodules).	It is formed of fine silt and clay.
Bhangar is not very fertile.	Khadar is very fertile and ideal for intensive cultivation.

 

2. Black Soil and Red Soil

Black  Soil	Red Soil
This soil is black in colour and is also known as the Regur soil or Black Cotton soil.	It is a category of soil which develops on Old crystalline rocks. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
It is fine textured and clayey in nature.	Red soil has got its name from its colour.
The soil is very fertile in most Places.	It is ideal for dry farming as it is formed in poor rainfall areas.
It is black in colour as it is formed from Weathered lava rocks.	It is loose and aerated.

3. Alluvial Soil and Black Soil 

Alluvial Soil	Black Soil
Alluvial soil is also known as riverine soil because it is mainly found in the river basins.	This soil is black in colour and is also known as the Regur soil or Black Cotton soil.
It is formed by the deposition of the river load as it flows from its upper to its lower course.	It is fine textured and clayey in nature.
It is light and porous, therefore easily tillable.	The soil is very fertile in most Places.
It is fertile soil as it is rich in minerals, especially potash and lime.	It is black in colour as it is formed from  Weathered lava rocks.

 

4.Red Soil and Laterite Soil 

Red Soil	Laterite Soil
It is a category of soil which develops on old crystalline rocks. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.	This soil is formed as a result of the atmospheric weathering of rocks under conditions of high rainfall and temperature with alternate wet and dry periods.
Red soil has got its name from its colour.	It is of a coarse texture, soft and friable.
It is ideal for dry farming as it is formed in  poor rainfall areas.	It is acidic in nature as alkalis are leached.
It is loose and aerated.	It is considered suitable for building purposes.

5.Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation

Soil Erosion	Soil Conservation
The removal of the topsoil cover by water, wind and human activities is called soil erosion.	Soil conservation meAns. prevention of soil loss from erosion or prevention of reducing the fertility of soil caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other types of soil contamination.
Wind erosion reduces the productive capacity of the soil, as most of the nutrients required by plants are carried away by the wind.	Lowering of the underground water table and decreasing soil moisture.