Class 11 Geography Important Chapter 30 Soils of India

Class 11 Geography Important Chapter 30 Soils of India Solutions English Medium As Per AHSEC New Syllabus to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters ASSEB Class 11 Geography Important Solutions and select need one. AHSEC Class 11 Elective Geography Additional Notes English Medium Download PDF. HS 1st Year Finance Important Solutions in English.

Class 11 Geography Important Chapter 30 Soils of India

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Soils of India

Chapter: 30

NINTH UNIT : CLIMATE, VEGETATION AND SOIL OF INDIA

IMPORTANT QUESTION AND ANSWER

Answer The Following Questions:

1. What is meant by land degradation?

Ans: Land degradation refers to the decline of soil quality—i.e., its productivity and deterioration of its layers.

2. Black soil is formed from which type of rock?

Ans: Black soil is formed from granite and gneiss-type rocks.

3. Over how many square kilometres is laterite soil found?

Ans: Laterite soil is found over nearly 1.26 lakh sq. km.

4. What is the reduction of soil quality called?

Ans: The reduction of soil quality is called land degradation.

5. In which region is saline-alkali (Ushar) soil found?

Ans: It is found in the Ganga–Yamuna Doab region.

6. The slope of the soil surface is helpful for what?

Ans: The slope of the soil surface is helpful for irrigation.

7. How many major soil types are found in India?

Ans: India has eight soil types.

8. Laterite soil is formed due to which natural process?

Ans: It is formed due to the leaching process.

9. In which state is organic soil found abundantly?

Ans: Organic soil is found mostly in Kerala.

10. How many tonnes of soil are eroded annually in India?

Ans: About 5,333 million tonnes of soil are eroded annually.

Long Question & Answer:

1. Describe the characteristics, origin and agricultural usefulness of laterite soil.

Ans: Laterite soil has the following characteristics, origin and agricultural importance:

Characteristics:

Laterite soil forms in high rainfall regions. It contains iron and aluminium oxides, giving it a dark colour and acidic nature. Silica and clay minerals are washed away, making the soil low in nitrogen and potassium. It is prone to erosion due to heavy rainfall.

Origin: Laterite soil forms through leaching in high rainfall areas. Iron and aluminium oxides remain concentrated after the removal of silica and clay. It is found in the Western Ghats, Northeastern hills, Shevaroy Hills, and Southern uplands.

Agricultural Usefulness:

Laterite soil is not fully suitable for agriculture by itself. It lacks nitrogen and therefore requires additional fertilizers. However, crops like tea, coffee, cinchona, betel vine, and some fruits grow successfully here. If proper irrigation and soil treatment are provided, the productivity increases. With correct fertilizer use, crop yields can improve.

2. Discuss land conservation.

Ans: Land conservation refers to the protection and preservation of the productive top layer of soil from soil erosion or land degradation. By controlling factors that cause soil erosion, effective conservation can be achieved. Water flow and wind are the primary causes of erosion. If water is retained or prevented from rapidly draining, erosion can be reduced.

In India, large-scale land and water conservation programmes began in 1951. By the end of the Sixth Five-Year Plan, nearly 29.3 million hectares of agricultural land were protected by spending about ₹2,200 crore.

Initially, contour bunding was used to control erosion by constructing earthen bunds along the slope. In Northeast India and the Nilgiri region, contour tillage and terracing reduced soil erosion by 40–50%. For example, in Dehradun and Ooty, terracing significantly reduced soil loss and improved crop production. However, terracing requires adequate soil depth.

3. How is forest soil formed?

Ans: In India’s snow-free hilly regions, forest soil is formed under cold-humid climatic conditions, through a process called podzolization. Such soil contains high organic matter. India has 2.85 lakh sq. km of forest soil, divided into several sub-types based on slope, height, climate, and vegetation.

In higher Himalayan regions, forest soils are highly acidic. In the lower Himalayas, due to the presence of alkaline substances, the soil becomes less acidic and forms brown soil. Brown soil is also found in Northeast India and the hill regions of the Nilgiris and Annamalai. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, forest soil exhibits lateritic characteristics. Acidic forest soils are not suitable for agriculture, but they are useful for growing tea, coffee, and citrus fruits.