Resources and Development Test - 26

Arid soils develop due to high temperature and evaporation.

• Resource planning is a complex process which identifies present and future resources and their needs.
  
• It involves surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation of resources.
  
• It is a judicious use of resources.
  

• Old alluvium is called Bhangar. It contains calcareous deposits locally known as 'Kankar'. Soil is not very fertile. And hence not suitable for agriculture.
  
• Newer alluvium is called khadar. It contains new alluvium. Used extensively for agriculture. It has no calcareous deposits.
  

The main reason for land degradation in Madhya Pradesh is deforestation. Due to urbanization and industrialization a lot of forest area has been diverted for other uses like agriculture, river valley projects, industries and townships, roads, etc. 

• Laterite soils are developed in the areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall.
  
• Laterite soil is a rock type soil rich in iron and aluminium, and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas.

• Soil erosion is the loss of top fertile layer of soil either by wind or by water.
  
• India is facing this problem in many parts. The area affected by soil erosion is 5, 00,000 square kilometres. It adversely affects productivity and economy of the country.
  
• There are many techniques to prevent soil erosion. But important step is to increase planting of trees or afforestation.
  

A tombolo is a sandy isthmus. A tombolo, from the Italian tombolo, meaning 'pillow' or 'cushion', and sometimes translated as ayre, is a deposition landform in which an island is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar. Once attached, the island is then known as a tied island.

Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil, usually the top 5–10 inches (13–25 cm). It has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms and is where most of the Earth's biological soil activity occurs. Topsoil is composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air.

An isthmus is a narrow piece of land connecting two larger areas across an expanse of water by which they are otherwise separated. A tombolo is an isthmus that consists of a spit or bar, and a strait is the sea counterpart of an isthmus.