DEGRADATION BY IMPROPER RESOURCE UTILISATION AND MAINTENANCE

Summary

The degradation of natural resources is a critical environmental concern driven by human activities such as over-cultivation, unrestricted grazing, and deforestation. These practices lead to soil erosion and desertification, which threatens agricultural sustainability. Additionally, improper irrigation causes water logging and increases soil salinity, negatively impacting crop growth. Recognized globally, desertification poses significant challenges, particularly in the wake of urbanization and the Green Revolution. Addressing these issues through sustainable resource management is essential for preserving soil health and ensuring food security.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Degradation of natural resources can occur due to both pollutants and improper utilization practices.
• 🌾 Soil erosion and desertification are significant issues caused by human activities such as over-cultivation and deforestation.
• ⏳ The formation of fertile topsoil takes centuries, but it can be easily lost through improper land management.
• 🐄 Unrestricted grazing practices contribute to soil degradation and can accelerate desertification.
• 🏜️ Large barren patches of land can merge over time to form deserts, impacting ecosystems and agriculture.
• 🏙️ Urbanization is recognized as a major contributor to desertification worldwide.
• 💧 Water logging occurs when irrigation lacks proper drainage, leading to soil saturation and crop damage.
• 🧂 Soil salinity increases due to water logging, drawing salt to the surface and harming agricultural productivity.
• 🚜 The Green Revolution aimed to enhance agricultural output but introduced challenges like water logging and soil salinity.
• 📉 Increased salt content in soil is detrimental to crop growth and poses severe risks to agriculture.

Q & A

What are some causes of natural resource degradation?

Natural resource degradation can be caused by pollutants and improper resource utilization practices, including soil erosion and desertification.

How does human activity contribute to soil erosion?

Human activities like over-cultivation, unrestricted grazing, deforestation, and poor irrigation practices can easily remove fertile topsoil, leading to soil erosion.

What is desertification and how is it formed?

Desertification is the process of land becoming increasingly arid, often caused by large barren patches merging over time due to human activities.

Why is desertification considered a major global issue?

Desertification is recognized as a major problem due to its contribution to land degradation, exacerbated by urbanization, which impacts food security and biodiversity.

What is water logging and how does it occur?

Water logging occurs when irrigation is done without proper drainage, causing excess water to accumulate in the soil, which can negatively affect crops.

How does water logging affect soil salinity?

Water logging draws salt to the soil surface, leading to increased salinity that can damage plant roots and hinder agricultural growth.

What impact does soil salinity have on agriculture?

Increased soil salinity is detrimental to crop growth, making it extremely damaging to agriculture by affecting plant health and productivity.

What role did the Green Revolution play in the context of water logging?

The Green Revolution introduced practices that, while increasing crop production, also led to problems such as water logging and soil salinity.

What practices can help prevent soil degradation?

Practices such as sustainable farming, proper irrigation methods, reforestation, and controlled grazing can help prevent soil degradation and desertification.

What are the long-term consequences of losing fertile topsoil?

Losing fertile topsoil can lead to reduced agricultural productivity, increased food insecurity, and the expansion of barren land areas, contributing to desertification.