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Questions and Answers
Which function of soil involves the storage of water and regulation of its supply?
What is a type of erosion caused primarily by human activities?
Which of the following erosion types involves the removal of soil in water flow?
Which of the following is NOT an effect of soil erosion?
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What is one method of controlling soil erosion that involves farming techniques?
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What role do contour lines serve in soil management?
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Which of the following methods is specifically used to reduce wind erosion?
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Which of the following statements about conservation tillage is true?
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What percentage of land is categorized as having very severe desertification?
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Which of the following is NOT a natural cause of desertification?
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What is one effect of desertification on the environment?
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Which method is NOT a control measure for desertification?
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What is the primary goal of mining?
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Which of the following practices can help mitigate the effects of desertification?
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What is an effect of mining on the environment?
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Which method is NOT effective in combating desertification?
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What is the study of soils in their natural environment called?
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Which of the following is NOT a cause of land degradation?
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Which factor does NOT affect soil formation?
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Which of the following processes contributes to soil formation?
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What affects the carrying capacity of land resources?
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Which of the following is an anthropogenic cause of land degradation?
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What is a major consequence of improper land-use planning?
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Which of the following best defines a natural resource?
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Which natural disaster is a cause of land degradation?
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What distinguishes renewable resources from non-renewable resources?
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Which of the following is an example of an inexhaustible natural resource?
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Which category do resources like forests and underground water fall under?
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Which of the following natural resources is classified as inorganic?
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What type of resource is air classified as?
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Which of the following types of natural resources can be found across multiple nations?
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What type of natural resource is nuclear power classified as?
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Study Notes
Functions of Soil
- Facilitates the nutrient cycle essential for plant growth and ecosystem health.
- Supports food production and other biomass generation.
- Acts as a water storage medium, regulating supply for plants and organisms.
- Regulates the emission of trace gases affecting climate and air quality.
- Filters groundwater, enhancing water purity.
- Degrades pollutants, contributing to environmental cleanup.
- Provides a biological habitat for various organisms.
- Source of clay, used in construction and manufacturing.
- Serves as a platform for man-made structures, including buildings and highways.
Types and Causes of Soil Erosion
- Normal Erosion: A natural process involving geological erosion over time.
- Accelerated Erosion: Caused by human activities, leading to faster soil loss.
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Climatic Agents:
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Water-induced erosion: Includes:
- Splash erosion from raindrop impacts.
- Sheet erosion, which occurs evenly across the surface.
- Rill erosion, forming small channels on slopes.
- Gully erosion, leading to larger trenches.
- Slip erosion caused by landslides.
- Stream bank erosion at water edges.
- Wind-induced erosion: Includes processes like suspension, saltation, and surface creep.
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Water-induced erosion: Includes:
- Biotic Agents: Living organisms contributing to soil loss through their activities.
Effects of Soil Erosion
- Decreases land productivity, impacting agriculture.
- Leads to desertification, transforming fertile land into desert.
- Causes deposition of soil into water bodies, affecting aquatic ecosystems.
- Reduces agricultural land availability, especially along riverbanks.
Soil Erosion Control Methods
- Conservation Tillage: Minimizes soil disturbance and retains moisture.
- Stubble Mulching: Retaining crop residues to protect the soil.
- Contour Farming: Plowing along contour lines to reduce runoff.
- Contour Bunding: Building barriers along contours to limit erosion.
- Check Dams: Small barriers to slow water flow and capture sediments.
- Terracing: Creating flat areas on slopes for more effective farming.
- Strip Cropping: Alternating strips of crops to enhance soil retention.
- Alley Cropping: Intercropping with trees to provide shelter from wind and improve soil health.
- Windbreaks: Planting trees to reduce wind speed and protect soil.
Desertification
- Types: Moderate (10-25%), Severe (25-50%), Very Severe (more than 50%).
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Causes:
- Natural Causes: Low rainfall, high evaporation, temperature fluctuations, high salinity.
- Anthropogenic Causes: Deforestation, overgrazing, conversion of pasture land, excessive fertilizer use.
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Effects:
- Accelerated soil erosion and loss of soil quality.
- Unfavorable climate conditions emerge.
- Lowered water tables can lead to saline or hard water.
- Threatens both human and animal life.
- Imposes significant economic and social costs.
- Control Measures: Large-scale plantation, sustainable agricultural practices, controlled grazing, water catchment development, rainwater harvesting.
Mining
- Involves extracting valuable minerals and geological materials from the Earth.
- Includes both opencast and underground mining methods.
Natural Resources
- Defined as sources or supplies producing benefits with utility; includes land, minerals, soil, water, and energy.
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Types:
- Natural Resources: Provided by nature, can be renewable or non-renewable.
- Man-made Resources: Created through human efforts.
- Human Resources: Related to human labor and capabilities.
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Natural Resources Types:
- Non-renewable: Limited supply (e.g., fossil fuels).
- Renewable: Replenished resources (e.g., solar energy).
Land Resource
- Study of soils in their environment is termed "pedology."
- Land is renewable but limited, facing challenges like carrying capacity, population density, and land degradation.
Land Degradation
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Causes:
- Natural: Heavy rainfall, natural disasters, desert expansion.
- Anthropogenic: Activities like mining, urbanization, deforestation, and overgrazing.
Soil
- A dynamic natural body consisting mainly of weathered rocks, organic materials, water, and air.
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Soil Formation:
- Processes: Physical, chemical, and biological weathering.
- Factors Influencing: Parent material, living organisms, climate, topography, and time.
- Soil Profile: Describes the layers of soil that provide insight into its composition and health.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the various functions of soil, including nutrient cycling, water regulation, and pollution degradation. Explore how soil supports biodiversity and infrastructure. Perfect for students studying environmental science or ecology.
