Check the below ICSE Class 10 Geography Goyal Brothers Solutions Chapter 5 Soil Resources in India with Questions and Answers Pdf free download. Students can also read Soils in India Class 10 ICSE Solutions.
ICSE Class 10 Geography Goyal Brothers Solutions Chapter 5 Soil Resources in India
Question 1.
How are Soils formed?
Answer:
Soils are formed from parent material through a process of break-up or wear and tear. Its formation is associated with the relief, climate and vegetation. Animal, insects and man also play an important role in the soil formation.
Soil is formed under specific natural conditions. It is a mixture of minerals or inorganic matter which results from denudation and disintegration of rocks. Soils, in this way is a renewable natural resource though it takes a long time to regenerate.
The process of the formation of soil is known as pedogenesis.
Question 2.
Name the factors responsible for soil formation.
Answer:
The factors responsible for soil formation include parental material, climatic conditions, the most important aspect of which is weathering, then living things such as plants and animals, and finally the surface relief and drainage.
Question 3.
Name the main components of soil.
Answer:
The main components of soil are :
- Inorganic Components:
The soil is composed of three main substances. These are silica, clay and chalk (calcium carbonate) - Organic Components:
The ultimate form of organic matter is humus which is formed by the decomposition of plant remains, animal waste and dead animals.
In addition, soil also contains moisture and air which vary from soil to soil.
Question 4.
Name the major soils of India?
Answer:
Six major soils of India are:
Alluvial soil, black soil, laterite soil, Red soil, Mountain soil and desert soil.
Question 5.
Why are alluvial soils very fertile?
Answer:
Alluvial soils are very fertile because these are rich in minerals, especially potash and lime. These are light and porous, therefore easily tillable.
Question 6.
How are black soils formed?
Answer:
Black soils are formed in situ, that is formed where they are found. These soils are formed from solidification of basic lava spread over large areas of Deccan Plateau during volcanic activity. Hence, these are formed by weathering of Deccan Trap.
Question 7.
Does Black soil undergo leaching?
Answer:
Black soil does not undergo leaching because it is clayed and sticky and moisture retentive/non porous and therefore the rain cannot wash out the silicates.
Question 8.
Give the other names for black soil. Name two characteristic features of black soil.
Answer:
Black soil is also known as black cotton soil and regur. Two characteristic features of black soil are as follows:
- Deep, fine-grained and varying in colour from black to chestnut brown.
- Moisture-retentive and very sticky when wet.
Question 9.
Why are red soils not suitable for agriculture?
Answer:
Red soils are not suitable for agriculture because these are not retentive of moisture and are deficient in nitrogen, lime, phosphoric acid and humus.
Question 10.
What is leaching? Give an example of a leached soil.
Answer:
Leaching of the soil is promoted by the monsoon conditions. The heavy rainfall washes away the top soil which contains silica. This process is known as leaching. Laterite soil is a leached soil.
Question 11.
What type of soils is widely distributed over the Ganga Basin?
Answer:
The type of soil seen on the Ganga Basin is the alluvial soil.
Question 12.
Which is the most widely transported soil?
Answer:
Alluvial soil is the most widely transported soil.
Question 13.
Which soil is suitable for growing coffee in India?
Answer:
Laterite soil is found suitable for growing coffee in India.
Question 14.
Name the soil found on the summits of Eastern Ghats.
Answer:
Laterite soil is found on the summits of Eastern Ghats.
Question 15.
Name one important characteristic of mountain soil.
Answer:
Mountain soil is very rich in humus but deficient in potash, phosphorous and lime.
Question 16.
What are the properties of desert soils?
Answer:
The Properties of desert soils are:
- They contain 60% of sand and 10% of clay.
- They allow the water to pass through.
- They are good for cultivation only if some fertilizer is added; it is good mainly for fruits and vegetables.
- They contain high proportion of salts.
Question 17.
How are laterite soils formed?
Answer:
- The soil formed due to weathering of lateritic rocks is called laterite soil.
- The soil formed due to weathering of lateritic rocks. These soils are formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. Thus, its formation takes place strictly under monsoon conditions.
Question 18.
Why does laterite soil undergo leaching?
Answer:
Laterite soils were formed in wet tropical conditions, causing rapid leaching of silicate and other minerals.
Question 19.
What is soil erosion? Name the different types of soil erosion.
Answer:
Soil Erosion –
Soil Erosion is the removal of top soil by running water and wind as well as by human acitivities.
The different agents of weathering are running water, wind, overgrazing, human activities, Faulty methods of agriculture.’ The different types of soil erosion are:
- Gully erosion is caused due to running down of water in distinct path which results in the removed of soil in the path. Gully erosion is harmful since it cut up agricultural land.
- Sheet erosion is caused by heavy rain in hilly regions which leads to the removal of a large are by running rainwater through steep slopes. Sheet erosion is also harmful since it removes fertile top soil of the land.
- Splash erosion where the soil is pulverized by the impact of heavy drops and hailstones as in case of convectional rainfall.
Question 20.
What is soil conservation? State two ways in which one can reduce soil erosion.
Answer:
Soil conservation is an effort by man to reduce soil erosion. Three important methods of soil conservation are as follows:
- Afforestation:
Since the roots of trees and plants hold the soil strongly and hence it is not easily removed by water and wind. Plants and trees reduce the speed for running water and blowing wind and thereby they prevent cutting of soil. - Proper fanning techniques:
Terracing of forms on hill slopes controls the soil erosion effectively. Soil erosion in hilly region can also be reduced by practising strip cropping and constructing bunds across hill slopes and field boundaries. - Restricted grazing of animals:
Animals should be moved over different pastures of grazing so as to avoid the removal of all vegetation from the pastures.
Question 21.
Explain the following terms: toposoil, in situ, hangar, khadar, humus.
Answer:
- Toposoil – It is the uppermost layer of the soil consisting of humus which is very fertile.
- In Situ – The soil which are found where they are formed is called “In Situ
- Bangar – The old clayey alluvial soil which is found in the indogangetic plains is called Bangar.
- Khadar – The new alluvial soil that is found is the deltas and flood plains is known as the Khadar.
- Humus – It is the dark organic material in soil, produced by the decomposition of vegetables or animal matter and is essential to the fertility of the soil.
Question 22.
On an outline map of India:
(a) Mark one major area for each of the following soils : alluvial soil, black soil, laterite soil and red soil.
(b) A region rich in alluvial soil.
(c) Shade the area having back soil is the western Madhya Pradesh.
(d) Mark a region having red soil in eastern Rajasthan.
(e) Mark the type of soil found on the coastal strip of Eastern Coast.
(f) Mark an area on the Western Coast having laterite soil. Ans.
Answer:
Question 23.
Give geographical reasons –
(a) Red soil is not suitable for cultivation.
Answer:
Because it is deficient in nitrogen, lime, phosphoric acid and humus. Hence, it is not suitable for cultivation.
But when fertilizers are added, soil becomes productive.
(b) Laterite soils are used as building material.
Answer:
Leaching of lime and silica leaves behind a poor soil which is unsuitable for cultivation. It is often used for building purposes.
(c) Black soils are black in colour.
Answer:
Black colour of regur soil is due to fine iron content, deriving from plutonic lava materials.
(d) Alluvial soils of Coastal region are black in colour.
Answer:
In the Deccan coastal strip, the soil is non-porous, gets darker as the rivers flow over the black regur soil and gets black in colour.
Question 24.
Answer in one word –
(a) Soils formed due to weathering of Deccan trap.
Answer:
Black soil.
(b) Alluvial soils of Coastal region are called ………………….
Answer:
Alluvial soils of Coastal region are called Regur Soil.
(c) In some valleys like Narmada and Tapi the soil is ……………… deep.
Answer:
In some valleys like Narmada and Tapi the soil is dark, deep.
Goyal Brothers Prakashan Class 10 ICSE Geography Solutions