Land Recourses in India

CHAPTER-1
Introduction
Earth is a unique planet in our solar system. Anything on earth
that is necessary for human survival and satisfies human needs is
called a resource. Land, soil and water are three important natural
resources. All of them a land is considered as the most important
and necessary resources. Land is put to different use by nature.
Natural uses of land includes forests, grass land, deserts, river,
lakes and land forms. Land resources are available for mankind.
Agricultural farms are developed on land to get food. Houses are
constructed on land to live, roads and rail tracks are developed on
land for transportation.

Why land is considered as a major resources ?

1. Land is used to build homes, transportation lines and other

requirements of human settlement.
2. Agriculture, forestation, animal rearing, mining industrial
and other economic activities all develop on land, therefore
land yields food, raw materials and gives us a sources of
income.
3. Land provides us with many scenic spot that humans utilize
for recreation and enjoyment.

S.C.S (A) College, Puri Page 1

Land Recourses in India

Classification of land:
Land can be classified in many ways :
(1) Plains and Mountains :

Plain is a flat, sweeping land mass that generally does not

change much in elevation. Plains are one of the major land
forms on earth and would cover more than one third of the
world land area.

(2) Mountain :

A mountain is a large land form that rises above the

surrounding land in a limited area, usually in the form of
appeal.

(3) Barren Land :

Barren land has thin, soil, sand or rocks. Barren lands

include deserts, dry salt flats, beaches, sand dunes exposed
and gravel pits.

(4) Fertile Land :

The land which are capable of being ploughed and used to

grow crops.
(5) Rural and Urban Land :

Urban areas can include town and cities while rural areas
include village and hamlets.

S.C.S (A) College, Puri Page 2

Land Recourses in India

Factor affecting productivity of land :

Productivity of land mainly depends on the following
factors :

Natural factors :

Natural factors like the soil, climate, rainfall, topography

and nature of the cost line determine whether land produces much
or little. A sandy soil and dry climate are sure to make it
unproductive.

Human Factors :

Man does not easily surrender to nature. If nature is unkind,

he fights her and tries to conquerber. For instance, if rain falls is
scanty, he can bring canal water. If soil is poor and deficient in
certain properties.

Situation Factor :

The situation of land is a grate importance. Fertile lands,

situated in a remote corner of the country away from the market
may be left uncultivated. The cost of transporting there produce
may be prohibitive.

S.C.S (A) College, Puri Page 3

Land Recourses in India

Causes of Land Pollution :

(i) Deforestation
(ii) Agriculture
(iii) Industry
(iv) Mining
(v) Land fills and waste
(vi) Urbanization
(vii) Other

Suggestion for reduce land pollution :

Economic incentives need to be put in place for farmers at

the frontier of forests. So that they intensify their production
without expanding their land by cutting down the forests. Some
way to land pollution are giving below :

(i) Buy biodegradable products

(ii) Store all liquid chemicals and waste in spill proof containers
(iii) Don't use pesticides if you can
(iv) Use a drip tray to collect engine oil
(v) Buy products that have little package
(vi) Don't dump motor oilon the grand.

S.C.S (A) College, Puri Page 4

Land Recourses in India

(vii) Don't use garbage bags just empty your trash into
the garbage bin.
(viii) Reduce your garbage amount
(ix) Reduce the use of paper.

Land Utilisation Pattern :

Utilization of land includes net shown area, land under forest,

barren and waste land, cultivable waste land, area under non-
agricultural use follow land etc.
Pattern of Land Utilisation in India
Particulars Area Percentage
(Million Hectares)
1. Total Geographical Area 328.73 100

2. Reporting Area 306 93

(i) Net Sown Area 140.3 45.8

(ii) Area under Forests 69 22.5

(iii) Barren and Wasteland 42 13.7

(iv) Cultivable Wasteland 18 5.9

(v) Area under Non-agricultural use 26 8.5

(vi) Follow Land 25 8.2

S.C.S (A) College, Puri Page 5

Land Recourses in India

Conclusion:
Total land area cannot be increased keeping in land the
growing population size increasing urbanization and
industrialization trend, the area under non-agriculture use is
increasing where as demand for agriculture products is
increasing. So there is need to convert waste land, barren land
and follow land into cultivable land by improving irrigation
facilities, dry farming technology etc. the area under forests
cannot be reduced as it worsens the problem of ecological
imbalance. So the government should formulate land use strategy
with balanced emphasis on sown land area under forests and area
under non- agriculture use.

S.C.S (A) College, Puri Page 6