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Soil Resources Flashcards

1
Q

define soil

A

soil is the thin layer of loose mixture of small rock particles and rotting organic matter that covers the surface of the earth

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2
Q

process of soil formation

A

pedogenesis

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3
Q

study of soil and its associated factors

A

pedology

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4
Q

characteristics of fertile soil

A
  1. adequate amount of moisture
  2. sufficient depth to enable plants to grow their roots
  3. rich in nutrients
  4. contains organic matter
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5
Q

categories of soil

A
  1. In-situ (residual/sedimentary)
  2. ex-situ (transported soil)
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6
Q

in-situ soils

A

red soil, black soil, laterite soil, desert soile

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7
Q

example of transported soils

A

alluvial soil

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8
Q

Alluvial Soil

A
  1. formed by sediments brought down by rivers
  2. fine particles called alluvium
  3. aka riverine soil
  4. mixture of clay, sand, silt (loam)
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9
Q

where is alluvial soil formed

A

indus, ganga, brahmaputra
coastal in coastal plains and deltas of mahanadi, krishnam godavari, kaveri

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10
Q

two types of alluvial soil

A

bhangar and khadar

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11
Q

bhangar soil

A

old, composed of lime nodules (kanker),clayey composition

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12
Q

khader soil

A

light colour,
newer deposits,
more fertile as new layers of soil are deposited after monsoons

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13
Q

distributions of alluvial soil

A
  1. inland: indus, ganga, brahmaputra
  2. deltaic: ganga-brahmaputra delta, mahanadi, godavari, kaveri, krishna
  3. coastal: peninsular india, gujarat
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14
Q

GR: why does alluvial soil differ in colour?

A
  1. depth of deposition\
  2. texture of materials
  3. time taken for maturity
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15
Q

texture of alluvial soil

A

upper reaches: dry, course, porous, sandy. has clay and organic matter, large and non uniform soil matter (piedmont plains)
lower: particles are uniform and small, moist, depth of 500 m

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16
Q

minerals in alluvial soil

A

LFMPA: lime, iron, magnesia, potash, alumina
deficient in nitrogen and hummus
more alkaline in drier areas

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17
Q

crops on alluvial soil

A

rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, gram, !!jute!!

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18
Q

name of black soil

A

black cotton soil/ regur soil/ lava soil (formed by denudation of volcanic rocks)

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19
Q

distribution of black soil

A

deccan lava tract

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20
Q

texture of black soil

A

fine textured
caleyey
high water retentivity
difficult to plough

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21
Q

minerals in black soil

A

LIMCAP: lime, iron, magnesium, calcium, alumina, potash
deficient of phosphorous, nitrogen, organic matter

22
Q

crops on black soil

A

cotton!!
jowar, wheat, linseed, gram, citrus, tobacco (moisture stored in subsoil)

23
Q

red soil

A

develops on old crystalline rocks
crystalline and metamorphic rocks of peninsular region break down to form red soil

24
Q

distribution of red soil

A

plateau region of peninsular india (TN, AP, Ktaka)
encircles black soil region on all sides
extends northwards along konkan coast

25
colour of red soil
red due to iron oxide brown or grey yellow in hydrated form
26
texture of red soil
porous, loose, aerated, shallow
27
minerals in red soil
soluble salts deficient of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, organic matter
28
crops on red soil
dry farming like black soil not fertile; responds to fertilizers rice, ragi, tobacco, vegetables, groundnut, potatoes
29
formation of laterite soil
formed due to atmospheric weathering of rocks under high rainfall and temperature with alternate wet and dry periods
30
define leaching
process by which nutrients get percolated below the soil due to heavy rainfall, thus leaving topsoil infertile. also called desilication (lime and silica)
31
two types of laterite soil
1. upland laterites (hills and uplands) 2. lowland laterites
32
distribution of laterite soil
highland areas of peninsular plateau
33
colour of laterite soil
red due to iron oxide, formed on leaching
34
texture of laterite soil
coarse, soft, friable, porous
35
minerals in laterite soil
acidic, iron oxide, potash deficient in silica, lime, magnesium, nitrogen
36
crops on laterite soil
does not retain moisture tapioca, cashewnuts, tea, coffee (with manuring) ragi, rice, sugarcane
37
why is laterite soil not fertile
1. low moisture retentivity 2. high acidity
38
define soil erosion
removal of topsoil cover by water, wind, human activitiesm
39
methods of soil erosion by water
1. sheet erosion 2. rill erosion 3. gully erosion 4. leaching 5. sea erosion 6. stream bank erosion
40
define sheet erosion
on gentle slopes, slow removal of thin layer of topsoil in low rainfall
41
define rill erosion
when sheet erosion continues for long, silt-laden runoff forms finger-shaped rills of grooves over a large area.
42
define gully erosion
in heavy rainfall, deep gullies are made on bare soils on account of water runoff
43
methods of soil erosion due to humans
1. loss of vegetation lead to sheet erosion, and topsoil is washed away 2. deforestation 3. uncontrolled grazing of domestic animals in upper slopes
44
define saltation
wind moves soil particles 0.1- 0.5 mm in size in bouncing/hopping fashion
45
define soil creep
wind moves soil particles greater than 0.5 mm by rolling
46
define suspension
soil particles less than 0.1 mm are detached by suspension
47
causes of soil erosion
1. heavy population pressure on land 2. nature of rainfall 3. overgrazing 4. bad farming techniques 5. topography (steep slopes and heavy rain) 6. deforestation
48
regions of soil erosion in India
1. badlands of chambal and yamuna rivers 2. piedmont zone of western himalayas 3. chotanagpur plateau 4. tapi-sabarmati valley
49
prevention of soil erosion
1. terrace farming 2. shelter belts/ wind breaks 3. contour ploughing 4. strip cropping 5. dams 6. plugging gullies 7. planting trees
50
define soil conservation
prevention of reduced fertility of soil caused by overusage, acidification, salinisation, contamination
51
effects of soil erosion
1. loss of fertile topsoil 2. decreasing soil moisture 3. increase in droughts and floods 4. silting of river and canal beds 5. landslides

Geography (14 decks)

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