Question

Give a geographic reason for each of the following:
(i) Alluvial soil is extremely fertile.
(ii) Need for soil conservation.
(iii) Reforestation should be practiced extensively.

Answer 1

Hint: Soil is made up of minerals, organic matters, living organisms, gas and water. Soil minerals have three class sizes namely clay, silt and sand. Its percentage of particles is called soil texture.

Complete Answer:
(i) Alluvial soil is extremely fertile- It is extremely fertile because it is formed by the sediments transported by rivers and is a mixture of sand, clay and silt. It has a loamy texture and it is rich in humus. It has good water retention and water absorbing capacity. This is widely spread in Northern Plains and river valleys. In peninsular-India, it is mostly found in deltas and estuaries. Indus-Ganga, Brahmaputra plain and Narmada-Tapi plains are its examples. Its sand content decreases from west to east of the country. It covers an area of 143 sq. km. Its new alluvium is termed as ‘Khadar’ and the old one is termed as ‘Bhangar’. It can be found in Light Grey color or Ash Color.

(ii) Need for soil conservation- The soil is basically the base of the plant life tree, while there are certain plants that can survive in water or air, most plants need to be rooted to the earth without soil. It better strengthens the animal kingdom. Agriculture also depends on it and it would be almost impossible to sustain animal and human life without land. Soil is the source for sustenance for 7 billion people. It protects clean water and helps to control the ecosystem. Soil depletion lowers crop yields and affects the livelihoods of farmers. Soil leached from its nutrients is incapable of sustaining crops or plants that resist desertification. World Soil Day, celebrated every year on 5 December, commemorates the value of soil for our life and the need to sustainably use it.

(iii) Reforestation should be practiced extensively- In order to conserve our world, reforestation is a very necessary practice. This is important because for different reasons, vast forests are lost or damaged on a daily basis. Owing to various factors such as forest fires, agriculture needs, human needs, logging and mining, loss of the green cover from the surface of the earth has become a common practice. In order to maintain equilibrium in the environment, forests play a very significant role. Deforestation is a significant threat to mankind's life. Extreme concerns have intensified due to deforestation, such as the greenhouse effect due to abundant carbon compounds found in the climate. They provide livelihood to a number of people. Forest plays a pivotal role to maintain the water cycle in order to prevent soil erosion. Trees are responsible for preserving the equilibrium of the earth's atmosphere between carbon dioxide and oxygen. Therefore in order to solve deforestation and maintain the ecological equilibrium of plant life on the earth, reforestation plays an important role.

Note: Soils are important as they provide roots with anchorage and help in retaining water and nutrients. Soils are home to a multitude of microorganisms, as well as armies of microscopic animals, earthworms and termites, that fix nitrogen and decompose organic matter. Life would be difficult without soil as it is a habitat of all living organisms.