Question

Which is the main cause of land degradation in Madhya Pradesh?
A) Deforestation
B) Overgrazing
C) Afforestation
D) None of these

Answer 1

Hint:
Land quality degrades when we lose the actual potential of land or soil in terms of salinization, erosion, and crusting. Hence, it is also called soil degradation.

Complete step by step solution:
Deforestation is the chief reason for land degradation in Madhya Pradesh. As a result of urbanization and industrialization, a lot of forests and forest areas have been delegated for other purposes like agriculture, river valley projects, industries and townships, roads, etc. Deforestation isn’t just cutting of trees; it is the permanent removal of trees to make room for something besides the forest. The cleared land can be used for agriculture or cattle grazing. The wood collected from forest or timber is used as a domestic fuel, construction, or manufacturing. Earth’s two-thirds fraction is just water. That means only one-third of the whole Earth can be inhabited by humans. From this one third, Forests constitute $30\% $ of the Earth's land surface. This data has been made public by the World Wildlife Fund. Land degradation or Soil Degradation is mainly the loss of actual or potential productivity or utility as a result of natural or anthropic factors. Land Degradation affects the water retention capacity of the land. Other problems like wind erosion, salinization, and crusting or compaction are also the result of the decline in land quality or reduction in its productivity.

Thus, option (A) is correct.

Note:
While Overgrazing, Urbanization, and Industrialization also pose a great threat to the quality of soil in general. Deforestation takes the lead in Land degradation as it depletes the quality of soil or land in both natural and anthropic factors.