Resources and Development Test - 3

It is a collection of essays by German born British economist E. F. Schumacher. The phrase "Small Is Beautiful" came from a phrase by his teacher Leopold Kohr. It is often used to champion small, appropriate technologies that are believed to empower people more, in contrast with phrases such as "bigger is better".

Due to the dry climate, high temperature, evaporation is faster and the 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. It is nodular calcium carbonate formed in soils of semi-arid regions. It forms sheets across alluvial plains and can occur as discontinuous lines of nodular kankar.

This type of soil  develop deep cracks during hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration of the soil. When wet, the soil becomes sticky and is difficult to work with. So the soil needs to be tilted after the first rains.

Non-Renewable Resources: It is a natural resource that is used up faster than it can be made by nature. It cannot be produced, grown or generated on a scale which can sustain how quickly it is being consumed. Once it is used up, there is no more available for future needs. Also considered non-renewable are resources that are consumed much faster than nature can create them. These resources take millions of years in their formation. Some of the resources like metals are recyclable and some like fossil fuels cannot be recycled and get exhausted with their use.

The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry  generates heavy amount of dust and releases it in the atmosphere. It later on settles down in the surrounding areas, affecting infiltration of water and crop cultivation.

Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised due to lack of capital or other reasons like non conventional sources of energy such as solar, wind and tidal, and geothermal energy. For example, the western parts of India particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for the development of wind and solar energy, but so far these have not been developed properly.

 On the Basis of Origin:
Biotic Resources: These are obtained from biosphere and have life such as human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock etc.Biotic resources affect the biosphere, community, individual of a species, population, biome. 

Abiotic Resources: All those things which are composed of non-living things are called abiotic resources. For example, rocks and metals. Abiotic resources affect the population , individual of a species, ecosystem, community and biosphere

Black soil is also called Regur soil. It is black in colour and ideal for growing cotton. This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over North-West Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows.

Laterite is a soil and rock type rich in iron and aluminium, and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Areas with high temperature and high rainfall in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and the hilly areas of Odisha and Assam. 

The laterite soil is formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods, which leads to leaching of soil, leaving only oxides of iron and aluminum. It lacks fertility due to a lower base-exchanging capacity and a lower content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.