Geography

Q.27.How is Mountain soil (Forest soil) formed? Mention any four characteristics of forest soil.

Ans. Formation:- The soils are formed due to mechanical weathering caused by snow, rain, temperature variation, etc.

Features :-

i). These soils are heterogeneous (diverse) in nature, and their character changes with mountain environment and altitude.
ii). The soils are very rich in humus, but are deficient in potash, phosphorus and lime.
iii). The soils are especially suitable for plantation of tea, coffee, spices and tropical fruits.
iv)The soil is loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes. It is acidic with low humus content in the snow covered areas. It is fertile in the lower parts of the valleys.

Q.28.Mention any four features of the arid soils.

Ans.

i). The soil range red to brown in color.

ii). The soils contain considerable amount of soluble salts.

iii) .The soils contain low percentage of organic matter due to dry climate and absence of vegetation.

iv). The soil is alkaline in nature as there is not rainfall to wash soluble salts.

v). The soils are infertile but with irrigation and fertilizers, the drought resistant and salt tolerant dry crops such as barley, cotton, wheat, millets, maize, pulses, etc are grown.

Q.29. Explain any four proper farming techniques which can be used for soil conservation.

Ans.

i). Crop rotation:- If the same crop is sown in the same field, year after year this consumes certain nutrients from the soil making it infertile. Crop rotation can check this type of erosion.

ii). Settled agriculture:- Checking and reducing shifting agriculture by persuading the tribal people to switch over the settled agriculture.

iii) . Terracing and contour bunding:- Terracing and contour bunding across the hill slopes is a very effective and oldest method of soil conservation. Hill slope is cut into a number of terraces having horizontal top and steep slopes on the back and front. Contour bunding involves the construction of bank along the contour.

iv). Shelter belts and strip cropping:- Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops. This breaks the force of the wind. Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rows of such trees are called shelter belts.

Q.30.What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?

Ans.

i). Terracing and contour bunding.
ii). Afforestation.
iii). Restricted grazing of aminals.