CBSE Class 10 Social Science Geography Notes

Chapter 1
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Geography Notes Chapter 1: You are introduced to
resources and their classification in CBSE Class 10 Social Science Geography Notes
Chapter. In this chapter you will also discover more about resource planning and
development in India as you go deeper into the chapter. You will gain knowledge about land
resources and the classification of India's various soil types.

The chapter concludes with a discussion on soil conservation and erosion. The CBSE Class
10 Social Science Geography Notes Chapter 1 Resources and Development goes into great
detail on each of these subjects. Examine these CBSE Class 10 Social Science Geography
Notes Chapter 1 to increase the effectiveness of your studies. These notes can also be
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CBSE Class 10 Social Science Geography Notes

Chapter 1 Resource and Development
Below we have provided CBSE Class 10 Social Science Geography Notes Chapter 1 for
students to help them understand the chapter better and to score good marks in their
examination.

Resources

A "Resource" is everything in our surroundings that can be used to meet our requirements
and is both economically and culturally feasible as well as technologically accessible. The
human race itself is a vital component of resources. They employ the materials found in the
environment to change them into resources.

Classification of Resources

Resources can be classified in the following ways:

(a) On the basis of origin – biotic and abiotic

(b) On the basis of exhaustibility – renewable and non-renewable

(c) On the basis of ownership – individual, community, national and international

(d) On the basis of the status of development – potential, developed stock and reserves

(a) On the Basis of Origin – Biotic and Abiotic

Biotic resources are living things that come from the biosphere.

For instance: People, animals, fisheries, plants, and so forth.

Abiotic Resources: Anything made up of nonliving things is referred to as an abiotic
resource.

such as metals and rocks.

(b) On the Basis of Exhaustibility – Renewable and Non-Renewable

Renewable or replenishable resources are those that can be replenished through

chemical, mechanical, or physical processes. One can further categorise renewable
resources as either continuous or flowing.

For instance, water, forests, wildlife, solar and wind energy, etc.

Over an extended period of geological time, non-renewable resources occur. The creation
of these resources takes millions of years. Certain resources, like metals, can be recycled,
whereas others, like fossil fuels, cannot and run out of supply after being used.

Minerals and fossil fuels, for instance.

(c) On the Basis of Ownership – Individual, Community, National and International

Individuals own individual resources in their exclusive possession. People own lands in
villages, houses, plots, and other properties in urban areas.

For instance: Ponds, pasture areas, plantations, water in wells, etc.

All community members have access to community-owned resources.

For instance, public parks, playgrounds, picnic areas, grazing areas, and graveyards.

A nation or countries own national resources. All minerals, water resources, forests, wildlife,
land inside political boundaries, and marine areas up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the
shore are considered territorial water. Every resource within is owned by the country.

such as railroads, canals, and roads.

International organisations oversee international resources. Ocean resources that are

located outside of the Exclusive Economic Zone's 200 nautical miles belong to the open
ocean, and no nation may use them without the approval of international organisations.

(d) On the Basis of the Status of Development – Potential, Developed Stock and
Reserves

The resources that are there in an area but have not yet been used are known as potential
resources.

For instance, wind and solar energy have a lot of potential but haven't been effectively
developed yet in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Developed Resources: Resources that have been analysed and their amount and quality
assessed for use. Resources are developed based on technology and how feasible they are.
Stocks are natural materials that have the capacity to meet human requirements but are
inaccessible to humans due to a lack of necessary technologies.

Eg: Hydrogen can be used as a rich source of energy. But we do not have advanced
technology to use it.

Reserves are the portion of the stock that hasn't yet been used but can be with the
assistance of current technical "know-how." These can be applied to fulfil demands in the
future.

For instance, water stored in dams, forests, etc., serves as a reserve that may be needed
later.

Development of Resources

Resources have been used by human beings indiscriminately and this has led to the
following major problems.

● Depletion of resources to satisfy the greed of a few individuals.

● Accumulation of resources in a few hands, which, in turn, divided the society into two
segments i.e., rich and poor.
● It has led to global ecological crises such as global warming, ozone layer depletion,
environmental pollution and land degradation.

Resource planning is essential for the sustainable existence of all forms of life. Sustainable
Economic Development means “development should take place without damaging the
environment, and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of
future generations.”

Resource Planning

In India, there are some regions which can be considered self-sufficient in terms of the
availability of resources and there are some regions which have an acute shortage of some
vital resources. This calls for balanced resource planning at the national, state, regional and
local levels.

Resource Planning in India

Resource planning is a complex process which involves:

(i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This involves
surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the
resources.

(ii) Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional
set-up for implementing resource development plans.

(iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.
Resources can contribute to development only when they are accompanied by appropriate
technological development and institutional changes. India has made concerted efforts
towards achieving the goals of resource planning right from the First Five Year Plan
launched after Independence.

To overcome irrational consumption and over-utilisation of resources, resource conservation

at various levels is important.

Land Resources

Land is a natural resource of utmost importance. It supports natural vegetation, wildlife,

human life, economic activities, transport and communication systems. India has land under
a variety of relief features, namely, mountains, plateaus, plains and islands as shown below:

Land Utilisation

Land resources are used for the following purposes:

● Forests
● Land not available for cultivation.
● a) Barren and wastelandb) Land put to non-agricultural uses
● Fallow lands
● Other uncultivated lands (excluding fallow land)
● Net sown area

Land Use Pattern in India

The use of land is determined.

● Physical factors: such as topography, climate, soil types

● Human factors: such as population density, technological capability and culture and
traditions etc.

Waste land is the land put to other non-agricultural uses which include rocky, arid and
desert areas, roads, railways, industry etc. Continuous use of land over a long period of time
without taking appropriate measures to conserve and manage it, has resulted in land
degradation.

Land Degradation and Conservation Measures

Human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, mining and quarrying have contributed
significantly to land degradation. Mining sites leave deep scars and traces of overburdening
the land. In recent years, industrial effluents as waste have become a major source of land
and water pollution in many parts of the country.

Some of the ways through which we can solve the problems of land degradation are:

● Afforestation and proper management of grazing.

● Planting of shelter belts of plants.
● Stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
 ● Proper management of wastelands.
● Control of mining activities.
● Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment.

Soil as a Resource

Soil is the most important renewable natural resource. It is the medium of plant growth and
supports different types of living organisms on the earth.

● It takes millions of years to form soil up to a few cms in depth. Various forces of
nature, such as changes in temperature, actions of running water, wind and glaciers,
activities of decomposers, etc., contribute to the formation of soil.
● Parent rock or bedrock, climate, vegetation and other forms of life and time are
important factors in the formation of soil.
● Chemical and organic changes which take place in the soil play an important role.
● Soil also consists of organic (humus) and inorganic materials.

Classification of Soils

On the basis of the factors responsible for soil formation, colour, thickness, texture, age, and
chemical and physical properties, the soils of India are classified into different types, as
mentioned below.

Alluvial Soils

● The entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil.

● The Alluvial Soil is deposited by 3 important Himalayan river systems – the Indus, the
Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
● It is also found in Rajasthan, Gujarat and eastern coastal plains, particularly in the
deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers.
● The alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay. As we move
inland towards the river valleys, soil particles appear to be bigger in size whereas in
the upper side of the river valley, the soils are coarse.
● Based on age, Alluvial soils can be classified as:
● Old Alluvial (Bangar): The Bangar soil has a higher concentration of kanker nodules
than the Khadar.
● New Alluvial (Khadar): It has more fine particles and is more fertile than the Bangar.
● Alluvial soils are very fertile. These soils contain an adequate proportion of potash,
phosphoric acid and lime, which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat
and other cereal and pulse crops.

Black Soil

● This soil is black in colour and is also known as regur soil. Climatic conditions, along
with the parent rock material are the important factors for the formation of black soil.
 ● The soil is ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil.
● This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over the
northwest Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows.
● The soil covers the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh
and Chhattisgarh and extends in the southeast direction along the Godavari and the
Krishna valleys.
● The black soils are made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material and are well-known
for their capacity to hold moisture.
● Black soil is nutrients rich and contains calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and
lime.
● The soil is sticky when wet and difficult to work on unless tilled immediately after the
first shower or during the pre-monsoon period.

Red and Yellow Soils

● This type of soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the
eastern and southern parts of the Deccan plateau.
● These soils develop a reddish colour due to the diffusion of iron in crystalline and
metamorphic rocks. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
● Found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of the middle Ganga plain and
along the Piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.

Laterite Soil

● The laterite soil develops under tropical and subtropical climates with the alternate
wet and dry season.
● This soil is the result of intense leaching due to heavy rain.
● Lateritic soils are acidic (pH<6.0) in nature and generally deficient in plant nutrients.
This type of soil is found mostly in Southern states, Western Ghats region of
Maharashtra, Odisha, some parts of West Bengal and the northeast regions.
● The soil supports deciduous and evergreen forests but humus poor.
● This soil is very useful for growing tea and coffee.

Arid Soils

● Arid soils range from red to brown in colour.

● This soil is generally sandy in texture and saline in nature. In some areas, the salt
content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water.
● Arid soil lacks humus and moisture.
● The lower horizons of the soil are occupied by Kankar because of the increasing
calcium content downwards. The Kankar layer formations in the bottom horizons
restrict the infiltration of water.

Forest Soils
 ● These soils are found in the hilly and mountainous areas.
● The soil texture is loamy and silty on the valley sides and coarse-grained on the
upper slopes.
● In the snow-covered areas of the Himalayas, these soils experience denudation and
are acidic with low humus content. The soil is fertile on the river terraces and alluvial
fans.

Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation

Soil erosion is defined as the depletion of the soil cover and the ensuing washing down.
Human activities including mining, overgrazing, construction, and deforestation are to blame
for soil erosion.

Moreover, soil erosion is caused by a few natural phenomena like wind, glaciers, and water.
Farming practices that are not up to par might also lead to soil erosion.

The clayey soils are sliced through by the flowing water, creating gullies and other deep
channels. The area is referred to as "bad land" after it is unsuitable for farming.

Sheet erosion is the process of large-scale, topsoil-eroding streams of water flowing down a
slope in a sheet form. Wind erosion occurs when the wind carries loose soil off a sloping or
level terrain.

Different Ways for Soil Conservation

● Water flow down slopes is slowed by ploughing along contour lines. We refer to this
as contour ploughing.
● Erosion is limited through terrace cultivation. The Western and Central Himalayas are
home to this kind of agriculture.
● when a sizable field is split into strips and grass is allowed to grow in between the
rows of crops. The wind's force is then reduced as a result. We call this technique
"Strip Cropping."
● Stabilising the desert in western India and stabilising sand dunes are achieved
through the planting of rows of trees to provide shade. These tree rows are referred
to as "Shelter Belts."