๐ Topic 06 of 6 ยท Chapter 04 ยท Soils of India
Soil Erosion & Conservation in India
Types of erosion, causes, conservation methods, complete revision โ UPSC & PSC exams.
๐ฑ Types of Soil Erosion
| Type | Cause | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet Erosion | Rainwater flows as a thin sheet over land, removing top layer uniformly | Gently sloping areas; agricultural fields |
| Rill Erosion | Small channels (rills) form on slopes due to running water | Slopes; hilly areas |
| Gully Erosion | Deep channels (gullies) cut into land; creates badlands/ravines | Chambal Valley (MP, Rajasthan, UP); Chhota Nagpur |
| Wind Erosion | Wind removes loose topsoil; creates sand dunes | Rajasthan (Thar Desert), Gujarat |
| Slip Erosion (Landslides) | Mass movement of soil on steep slopes | Himalayas, Western Ghats, NE India |
| Stream Bank Erosion | Rivers erode their banks laterally | Kosi (Bihar), Brahmaputra (Assam) |
๐ฑ Causes of Soil Erosion
- Deforestation โ removal of tree cover exposes soil to rain and wind
- Overgrazing โ animals remove vegetation cover
- Shifting cultivation (Jhum) โ NE India โ burns and clears forest
- Faulty agricultural practices โ ploughing along slopes, no crop rotation
- Mining and quarrying โ disturbs soil structure
- Construction activities โ roads, buildings expose bare soil
๐ฑ Soil Conservation Methods
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Contour Ploughing | Ploughing along contour lines (not up-down slopes) โ reduces runoff |
| Terrace Farming | Step-like terraces on slopes โ reduces slope gradient โ common in Himalayas |
| Strip Cropping | Alternating strips of crops and grass โ reduces wind and water erosion |
| Shelter Belts | Rows of trees planted to break wind force โ Rajasthan, Punjab |
| Afforestation | Planting trees on barren land โ increases vegetation cover |
| Check Dams | Small dams in gullies โ slow water flow โ trap sediment |
| Crop Rotation | Alternating crops โ maintains soil fertility and structure |
โ Chapter 04 โ Complete Revision Checklist
โ
Alluvial soil = 43% of India = most widespread = Indo-Gangetic Plain
โ Khadar = new alluvium = near rivers = more fertile; Bangar = old alluvium = kankar
โ Black soil (Regur) = Deccan Trap = cotton soil = self-ploughing = Maharashtra
โ Red soil = crystalline rocks = iron oxide = Tamil Nadu, AP, Karnataka
โ Laterite soil = leaching = tea, coffee, cashew = Kerala, Karnataka
โ Arid soil = Rajasthan = sandy = kankar layers
โ Saline soil = Usar/Reh = UP largest area = reclaimed with gypsum
โ Peaty soil = Kerala (Kuttanad) = high organic matter = waterlogged
โ Gully erosion = Chambal Valley = badlands/ravines
โ Wind erosion = Rajasthan = Thar Desert = sand dunes
โ Contour ploughing = reduces runoff on slopes
โ Terrace farming = step-like terraces = Himalayas
โ Shelter belts = rows of trees = break wind = Rajasthan, Punjab
โ Khadar = new alluvium = near rivers = more fertile; Bangar = old alluvium = kankar
โ Black soil (Regur) = Deccan Trap = cotton soil = self-ploughing = Maharashtra
โ Red soil = crystalline rocks = iron oxide = Tamil Nadu, AP, Karnataka
โ Laterite soil = leaching = tea, coffee, cashew = Kerala, Karnataka
โ Arid soil = Rajasthan = sandy = kankar layers
โ Saline soil = Usar/Reh = UP largest area = reclaimed with gypsum
โ Peaty soil = Kerala (Kuttanad) = high organic matter = waterlogged
โ Gully erosion = Chambal Valley = badlands/ravines
โ Wind erosion = Rajasthan = Thar Desert = sand dunes
โ Contour ploughing = reduces runoff on slopes
โ Terrace farming = step-like terraces = Himalayas
โ Shelter belts = rows of trees = break wind = Rajasthan, Punjab