Ch 1 resources and development

Defination of resources
Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, provided, it is technologically accessible,
economically feasible and culturally acceptable can be termed as ‘Resource’.

Interdependent relationship between nature, technology and institutions

Classification of resources

TYPES OF RESOURCES
*on the Basis of Origin
Biotic Resources: These are obtained from biosphere and have life such as 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 rock and
metal
*On the Basis of Exhaustibility
Renewable Resources: The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical or mechanical
processes are known as renewable resources eg.solar and wind energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc
Non-Renewable Resources: These occur over a very long geological time. Minerals and fossil fuels are examples of such
resources. These resources take millions of years in their formation.
*On the Basis of Ownership
Individual Resources: These are also owned privately by individuals. Many farmers own land which is allotted to them
by government against the payment of revenue.
Community Owned Resources: There are resources which are accessible to all the members of the community eg.
(grazing grounds, burial grounds, village ponds, etc.)
National Resources: Technically, all the resources belong to the nation. The country has legal powers to acquire even
private property for public good.eg.roads, canals, railways
Inter national Resources: There are international institutions which regulate some resources.
eg.oceans ,space
*On the Basis of the Status of Development
Potential Resources: Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised. For example, the western parts of
India particularly 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 which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been determined for utilisation.
The development of resources depends on technology and level of their feasibility.
Stock: Materials in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but human beings do not have the
appropriate technology to access these, are included among Stock
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.
*DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES
Resources are vital for human survival as well as for maintaining the quality of life. It was believed that resources are free
gifts of nature. As a result, human beings used them indiscriminately and this has led to the following major problems.
• Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals. • Accumulation of resources in few hands, which, in
turn, divided the society into two segments i.e. haves and have nots or rich and poor.
• Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as, global warming, ozone layer
depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation
Sustainable development
Sustainable economic development means ‘development should take place without damaging the environment, and
development in the present should not compromise with the needs of the future generations.’
Resource planning involves the systematic allocation and management of available resources to meet present and future
needs effectively.
Objectives:Ensuring sustainable utilization of natural resources.
Minimizing environmental degradation.
• Steps:Assessment of available resources.
Identification of resource needs and demands.
• Importance:Facilitates balanced economic growth.
Helps in conserving resources for future generations.
• Examples:National resource planning initiatives by governments.
Local-level land use planning to optimize resource utilization.
• Challenges:Conflicting interests and priorities
Lack of accurate data and information.
• Conclusion: Resource planning is essential for achieving sustainable development and ensuring the well-being of
both current and future generations.
*Resource Planning in India
Resource planning is a complex process which involves : (i) identification and inventory of resources across the regions of
the country. This involves surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the
resources.
(ii) Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional set up for implementing
resource development plans.
(iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.
Conservation of Resources:
• Definition: Conservation of resources refers to the sustainable management and preservation of natural resources
to ensure their availability for future generations.
*Land resources
PLAIN:43%
MOUNTAIN:30%
PLATUES:27%

land utilisation:
Land resources are used for the following purposes:
1. Forests
2. Land not available for cultivation
(a) Barren and waste land
(b) Land put to non-agricultural uses, e.g. buildings, roads, factories, etc.
3. Other uncultivated land (excluding fallow land)
(a) Permanent pastures and grazing land,
(b) Land under miscellaneous tree crops groves (not included in net sown area),
(c)Cultruable waste land (left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural years).
4.Fallow lands
(a) Current fallow-(left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year),
(b) Other than current fallow-(left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural years).
5.Net sown area(NSA) the physical extent of land on which crops are sown harvested is known as net sown area. Area
sown more than once in an agricultural year plus net sown area is known as gross cropped area
**LAND USE PATTERN IN INDIA:** The use of land is determined both by physical factors such as topography,
climate, soil types as well as human factors such as population density, technological capability and culture and traditions
etc.

Total geographical area of India is 3.28 million sq km. Land use data, however, is available only for 93 per cent of the total
geographical area because the land use reporting for most of the north-east states except Assam has not been done fully.
fringes of these forests depends upon it. A part of the land is termed as waste land and land put to other non-agricultural
uses. Waste land includes rocky, arid and desert areas and land put to other non-agricultural uses includes settlements,
roads, railways, industry etc.
Land Degradation: Refers to the deterioration of the quality and productivity of land due to various factors such as
deforestation, soil erosion, desertification, and pollution.
• Causes of Land Degradation:
• Deforestation: Clearing of forests for agriculture, urbanization, and industrial activities.
• Soil Erosion: Loss of topsoil due to water, wind, and human activities like overgrazing and improper
farming practices.
• Desertification: Expansion of arid and semi-arid areas due to unsustainable land use practices and climate
change.
• Pollution: Contamination of land by industrial effluents, chemicals, and improper waste disposal.
• Conservation Measures:
• Afforestation and Reforestation: Planting trees to restore forest cover and prevent soil erosion.
• Soil Conservation: Adopting measures like contour plowing, terracing, and crop rotation to minimize soil
erosion and improve soil fertility.
• Watershed Management: Protecting watersheds and implementing soil and water conservation techniques
to ensure sustainable water resources.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Practices such as organic farming, agroforestry, and use of cover crops to
maintain soil health and productivity.
• Land Use Planning: Regulating land use through zoning, land-use maps, and
environmental impact assessments to prevent land degradation and promote
sustainable development
importance of conservation
• Preserves soil fertility and productivity for agriculture.
• Mitigates erosion, flooding, and landslides.
• Protects biodiversity and ecosystems.

SOIL AS A RESOURCE:
Soil is the most important renewable natural resource. It is the medium of plant growth and
supports different types of living organisms on the earth. The soil is a living system. It takes
millions of years to form soil upto a few cm in depth.
soil are equally important. Soil also consists of organic (humus) and inorganic materials
Classification of Soils India has varied relief features, landforms, climatic realms and vegetation types. These have
contributed in the development of various types of soils.
Alluvial Soils:
This is the most widely spread and important soil.
the entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil.
These have been deposited by three important Himalayan river systems – the Indus, the Ganga and Brahmaputra
These soils also extend in Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corridor. Alluvial soil is also found in the eastern
coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri river
According to their age alluvial soils can be classified as old alluvial (Bangar) and new alluvial (Khadar).
bangar soil has higher concentration of kanker nodules
Khadar. It has more fine particles and is more fertile than the bangar
Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and
lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
Black Soil:These soils are black in colour and are also known as regur soils. Black soil is ideal for growing cotton and is
also known as black cotton soil.
This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan plateau and is made up of lava
flows
They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and extend in the south
east direction along the Godavari and the Krishna valleys
The black soils are made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material.
they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents. They develop deep cracks during hot weather, which helps in the
proper aeration of the soil. These soils are sticky when wet and difficult to work
Red and Yellow Soils:Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern
parts of the Deccan plateau. These soils are also found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of the middle
Ganga plain and along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats. These soils develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of
iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
Laterite Soil Laterite has been derived from the Latin word ‘later’ which means brick. The laterite soil develops under
tropical and subtropical climate with alternate wet and dry season. This soil is the result of intense leaching due to heavy
rain. Lateritic soils are mostly deep to very deep, acidic (pH<6.0), generally deficient in plant nutrients and occur mostly
in southern states, Western Ghats region of Maharashtra, Odisha, some parts of West Bengal and North-east regions.
Where these soils support deciduous and evergreen forests,
Arid Soils range from red to brown in colour. They are generally sandy in texture and saline in nature. In some areas the
salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water. Due to the dry climate, high temperature,
evaporation is faster and the soil lacks humus and moisture. The lower horizons of the soil are occupied by Kankar
because of the increasing calcium content downwards. The Kankar layer formations in the bottom horizons restrict the
infiltration of water. After proper irrigation these soils become cultivable as has been in the case of western Rajasthan.
Forest Soils These soils are found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are available. The soils
texture varies according to the mountain environment where they are formed. They are loamy and silty in valley sides and
coarse grained in the upper slopes. The soils found in the lower parts of the valleys particularly on the river terraces and
alluvial fans are fertile.
Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation :The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is described as soil
erosion.The processes of soil formation and erosion, are balanced Sometimes, this balance is disturbed due to human
activities like deforestation, over-grazing, construction and mining etcwhile natural forces like wind, glacier and water
lead to soil erosion.The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels as gullies. The land becomes
unfit for cultivation and is known as bad land. In the Chambal basin such lands are called ravines.Sometimes water flows
as a sheet over large areas down a slope. In such cases the top soil is washed away. This is known as sheet erosion Wind
blows loose soil off flat or sloping land known as wind erosion Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow
of water down the slopes. This is called contour ploughing
Terrace cultivation restricts erosion
Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the
wind. This method is known as strip cropping. Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rows
of such trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the stabilisation of sand dunes
and in stabilising the desert in western India