Land Resource Land is finite and valuable resource

Land Resource Land is finite and valuable resource on which we depend for our housing, food, fibre and fuel wood. Soil, especially the top soil is considered as renewable resources because it is continuously regenerated but the rate of regeneration is a slow process. It take almost 200 -1000 year for the formation of 2. 5 cm soil, depending upon climate and soil type. So it the rate of soil degradation is faster than the soil regeneration it can become a non-renewable resource. Land Degradation: Due to increase human population there is increased pressure on land resource in term of food growth, land area for the housing purpose , Industrial growth. Processes such as soil erosion, water-logging, salinization and contamination of soil with industrial wastes like heavy metals, salt etc causes degradation of land. Soil Erosion: literal meaning is wearing away of soil. Soil erosion is the deterioration of soil by the physical movement of soil particles from a given site. Wind, water, ice, animals, and the use of tools by man are usually the main causes of soil erosion. 1/3 of world cropland is affected by the problem of soil erosion. Soil erosion is of two type: a) Geological erosion (normal erosion): gradual removal of top soil by natural processes which bring an equilibrium between physical, biological and hydrological activities and maintain balance between erosion and renewal.

b) Accelerated erosion: Natural erosion process got faster due to human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing and mining. Agents of soil erosion: Agents of soil erosion are broadly divided into two types: a) Climatic agents: water and wind are two major agents responsible for soil erosion. Erosion caused by water are divided into following category based upon the severity of erosion: 1) Sheet erosion: when there is uniform removal of thin layer of soil from a large surface area, it is called sheet erosion. Sheet erosion occurs as runoff travels over the ground, picking up and transporting the particles dislodged by raindrop impacts. The process of sheet erosion is uniform, gradual and difficult to detect until it develops into rill erosion. 2) Rill erosion: when there is rainfall rapidly running water produces finger shaped grooves or rills over the area, it is called rill erosion.

3) Gully erosion: When rainfall is more heavy rill can convert into deepen cavities or gullies which may be U or V shaped. 4) Slip erosion: Especially occurs in mountain areas, where due to heavy rainfall slope of mountain and hill area loose soil. It is also known as landslide defined as an outward and downward movement of the slope-forming material, composed of natural rocks, soil, artificial fills, etc. 5) Stream bank erosion: usually occurs during the peak discharge periods, when fast flowing river water cut the soil and make caves in the river bank. This type of erosion is responsible for moving immense quantities of detritus, comprising boulders, shingles, sand silt, depending upon the geology of the terrain.

Wind erosion is a major soil erosion agents especially in the non-vegetated and dry land area. In case of wind erosion following three type of soil movement takes place: 1) Suspension: when very fine dirt and dust particles are lifted into the wind. They can be thrown into the air through impact with other particles or by the wind itself. Once in the atmosphere, these particles can be carried very high and be transported over extremely long distances. 2) Saltation : In saltation, fine soil particles are lifted into the air by the wind and drift horizontally across the surface increasing in velocity as they go. They travel approximately four times longer in distance than in height. When they strike the surface again they either rebound back into the air or knock other particles into the air. 3) Creep - The large particles which are too heavy to be lifted into the air are moved through a process called surface creep. In this process, the particles are rolled across the surface after coming into contact with the soil particles in saltation.

b) Biotic agents: Overgrazing, mining and deforestation are the major agents for the soil erosion. Due to these activity top soil become loose or get devoid of vegetation, which increase the effect of climatic agent. Overgrazing accounts for 35% of world’s soil erosion while deforestation is responsible for 30% and unsuitable method of farming cause 28% of soil erosion. Soil conservation Practices: To conserve the soil following practices are employed: 1) Conservational till farming: In traditional method of ploughing, top soil is broken up and smoothed to make a seed planting surface, which make it susceptible to erosion during fallow period. In case of no-till farming special tillers break up and loosen the subsurface soil by making slits and injecting seeds, fertilizer and water without turning over the top soil. 2) Contour farming: Specially done in the hilly area where crops are grown in rows across rather than up and down, a practice known as contour farming. Each row of plant acts as dam and protect soil for erosion through water.

3) Terracing: Steep slopes are converted into broad terrace which run across the contour. Terracing retains water for crops at all levels and cut down soil erosion by controlling run-off. Terrace 4) Strip cropping: strip of crops are alternated with strips of soil saving cover crops like grasses or grass legume mixture. So whatsoever run off comes from the cropped soil is retained by strip of cover crop and this reduce soil erosion. 5) Alley cropping: It is also known as Agro forestry. In this type crops are planted between rows of trees or shrubs. So, when crops are harvested soil is not fallow so reduce the soil erosion.

Wind breaks or shelterbelts: These help in reducing soil erosion by strong winds. The trees are planted in long rows along the cultivated land boundary so that wind is blocked. The wind is substantially reduced which help in preventing wind erosion of soil.