CBSE 8 Geography Ch 2 Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources Notes

Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources Notes

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Land 

  • The land is a natural resource. 
  • It’s essential for life but not all parts are equally suitable for living. 
  • Only 30% of Earth’s surface is covered by land, and an even smaller portion of this land serves as a habitat for living organisms.
  • Steep mountain slopes, lowlands, and desert areas are called inhabitable. 
  • People need plains and river valleys for farming, shelter, and safety. 
  • Very high or low places are unsafe for people. 
  • Fertile soil helps farming and making an area more livable. 
  • Extreme heat, cold, or too much rain make living difficult. 
  • Dense forests or deserts are hard to live in. 

Uses of land

The land is used for various purposes, like agriculture, housing, roads, parks, and playgrounds. How land is used depends on natural features like the shape of the land, type of soil, weather, minerals, and water nearby.

The land is classified into two parts – 

1. Private Land – (The individual owns private land) – House, Building
2. Community Land – (The community land is used by the community for the common uses) – School, Park, Hospital.

People’s demands are growing but the availability of land is limited. The uses of land depend from place to place. In cities, people build shops, offices, and apartments, which are called urban areas. In villages, land is mostly used for farming, and these are called rural areas.

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Conservation of land resource

As people’s needs grow, many forests and natural resources are being destroyed, to protect land, we can plant more trees (afforestation), fix damaged land and use fewer harmful chemicals like pesticides.

Soil

Soil is a thin layer on the Earth’s surface made up of tiny pieces of rocks, minerals, and remains of plants and animals, and it forms slowly when rocks break down over time through a process called weathering, which takes many years.

It also helps store water and is home to many living organisms like worms, insects, and microorganisms that keep the soil healthy.

Landslides occur when rocks, soil, or debris move down a slope. This usually happens during earthquakes, floods, or volcanic eruptions. Heavy rainfall over a long period can also cause landslides, which may block rivers and create problems for nearby areas. Landslides can be dangerous because they can damage homes, roads, and other structures.

Mitigation mechanisms are ways to identify the causes of landslides and find ways to prevent or manage them.

A. It helps identify areas prone to landslides, so these areas can be avoided for building homes or buildings.
B. Constructing walls to hold the soil in place and prevent it from sliding down.
C. Growing plants and trees helps keep the soil together, reducing the chance of landslides.
D. Surface drainage system controls landslides by directing rainwater and spring water.

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Factors of Soil Formation

The soil and the climate conditions are the main factors in soil formation. Other factors include the shape of the land. The plants and animals and the time it takes for soil to form.

The major factors of soil formation are rocks and climate.

  • Type of rocks and minerals it originates from, 
  • The climate conditions such as temperature and rainfall, 
  • The shape and steepness of the land, 
  • The presence of plants, animals, and microorganisms that break down organic matter, 
  • The time of the soil has been developing, 
  • Human activities such as farming and construction.

Degradation of soil & conservation measures

Soil erosion and depletion are big problems for the soil. Both people and nature cause damage to the soil. Things like cutting down trees, using too much fertilizer, overfarming, heavy rain, landslides, and floods all harm the soil and make it less healthy.

Some methods of soil conservation are given below:

a. Mulching: The ground between plants is covered with a layer of natural materials like leaves or grass, which helps keep the soil moist.
b. Contour barriers: Stones, grass, and soil are used to build barriers along the slopes of the land. Trenches are dug in front of these barriers to collect water.
c. Rock dam: A rock dam is a barrier made of rocks across the river to block water flow.
d. Terrace farming: Terrace farming is a method of farming where steps are cut into a slope to create flat surfaces for growing crops. Which helps reduce soil erosion and save water.
e. Intercropping: Crops are grown at different times in alternative rows to protect the soil from washing by rain.
f. Contour ploughing: Contour ploughing is the practice of ploughing along the natural curves of the land. It helps soil erosion and save water.
g. Shelter belts: Shelter belts are rows of bushes planted to protect crops and soil from wind.

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Water

Water is a colourless liquid that is essential for all forms of life. Water makes up about 75% of the Earth’s surface, so the Earth is called the water planet. It’s used for drinking, cleaning, farming, and many other activities. Water can be found in oceans, rivers, and lakes. Ocean water is salty and not safe to drink only 2.7% of the water on Earth is fresh so the fresh water is very limited, and we need to use this wisely.

Problems of water availability

In most parts of the world like West Asia, south Asia, and Northwest Mexico many countries are facing a shortage of fresh water supply. 

Some problems of water availability are given below: 
a. Increasing human consumption
b. Climate
c. Natural disaster
d. Overuse of water
e. Water pollution

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Conservation of water resource

The conservation of water resources means protecting and saving water to ensure there is enough for future generations. This is a major challenge in many parts of the world. Conservation involves using water wisely, avoiding waste, reusing water when possible, and keeping it clean and safe. 

Natural vegetation and wildlife 

Natural Vegetation is the group of plants that grow naturally in a particular area without human help. This includes forests, grasslands, shrubs, and other types of plants, they are found in different parts of the world based on climate and soil. 

Wildlife refers to all the animals, birds, and insects that live in nature, not under human care. They live in their natural homes, like forests, oceans, or deserts.

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Distribution of natural vegetation

The distribution of natural vegetation means how different plants are found in different parts of the world, the growth of vegetation depends primarily on temperature and moisture. 

The main types of vegetations are forests, grasslands, scrubs, and tundra. 

  • Forests grow in places with lots of water and heavy rainfall. 
  • Grasslands grow in areas with medium rainfall, where different kinds of grasses grow. 
  • Scrubs grow in dry places with very little rain, and their plants have deep roots and spiny or shiny leaves to save water. 
  • Tundra plants grow in very cold places and include mosses, small shrubs, and lichens. 

Each type of vegetation grows where the weather and rainfall are just right for it.

Conservation of Natural Vegetation and Wildlife

Conservation of Natural Vegetation and Wildlife means protecting plants, animals, and their homes to keep nature healthy. We can do this by using farming methods that are safe for the environment, reducing pollution, planting more trees, and stopping deforestation (cutting down too many trees). Creating special areas like wildlife sanctuaries and national parks also helps protect animals and plants. It is important to stop harmful activities like hunting, overgrazing, and cutting trees illegally. Taking care of nature helps all living things survive and keeps the Earth beautiful.

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