Soil Erosion and Conservation

Total Questions: 13

1. In India, the problem of soil erosion is associated with which of the following? [I.A.S. (Pre)]

1. Terrace cultivation
2. Deforestation
3. Tropical climate
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only

Solution:The destruction of soil cover is described as soil erosion. The soil forming processes and the erosional processes of running water and wind go on simultaneously. But generally, there is a balance between these two processes. Sometimes, such a balance is disturbed by natural or human factors, leading to a greater rate of removal of soil.
Deforestation is one of the major cause of soil erosion. Plants keep soils bound in locks of roots, and thus, prevents erosion.
Terrace farming is a method of soil conservation. The tropical climate is not responsible for soil erosion.

2. Soil erosion can be checked by [40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]

(a) Excess grazing
(b) Removal of plants
(c) Afforestation
(d) Increasing number of birds

Correct Answer: (c) Afforestation

Soil erosion is a continuous process that occurs either slowly or at an alarming rate. It results in a continuous loss of topsoil, ecological degradation, soil collapse, etc. Higher intensity of rainstorms is the main cause of soil erosion. Four types of soil erosion are caused by rainfall:

Rill erosion
Gully erosion
Sheet erosion
Splash erosion
The raindrops disperse the soil, which is then washed away into the nearby streams and rivers. Regions with very heavy and frequent rainfall face a large amount of soil loss. The flowing water during floods also erodes a lot of soil by creating potholes, rock-cut basins, etc.

3. Soil erosion can be prevented by- [U.P.R.O./A.R.O.(Pre) 2014]

(a) Heavy rains
(b) Deforestation
(c) Afforestation
(d) Overgrazing

Correct Answer: (c) Afforestation

Solution:Soil conservation includes all the methods to check soil erosion and maintain soil fertility. Some of the effective ways to prevent soil erosion are afforestation, contour tillage, banning shifting cultivation, etc. Soil conservation is the prevention of soil from erosion or reduced fertility caused by overuse, acidification, salinisation or other chemical soil contamination. Soil erosion is the greatest single evil to Indian agriculture and animal husbandry. Notable Quotable from Khullar's Indian Geography: "With soil conservation people rise and with its destruction, they fall. Neglect of soil is like killing the hen that lays the golden egg."

4. Which of the following practices can help in water conservation in agriculture? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2017]

1. Reduced on zero tillage of the land
2. Applying gypsum before irrigating the field
3. Allowing crop residue to remain in the field
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution:Reduced or zero tillage of the land in farming is a way of growing crops or pasture year to year without disturbing the soil through tillage, so, it helps in soil moisture conservation. Gypsum helps in dissolution of the salt clay pan found in soils that obstructs the percolation of water. So, it increases the efficiency of irrigation. Allowing crop residue to remain in the field reduces evaporation of water from the soil. So all the statements are correct.

5. In which one of the following areas in India, the problem of soil erosion is critical? [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2004]

(a) Malwa Plateau
(b) Foothill areas of Shivalik ranges
(c) Dandkaranya
(d) Meghalaya Plateau

Correct Answer: (b) Foothill areas of Shivalik ranges

Solution:The maximum soil erosion affected areas in India are given below:
1. Barren land of Chambal and Yamuna rivers
2. Foothill areas of Western Himalayan Ranges (including or foot hill areas of the Shiwalik Ranges)
3. Chotanagpur Plateau
4. The area between Tapti and Sabarmati Valley (Malwa Plateau etc)
5. Black soil area of Maharashtra
6. Arid regions of Haryana, Rajasthan & Gujarat.

6. Which one of the following areas is most affected by soil erosion in India? [M.P.P.C.S.(PRE) 2006, U.P. Lower Sub.(Pre) 2004]

(a) Malwa Plateau
(b) Tarai area of Uttar Pradesh
(c) Coastal area of Andhra
(d) Chambal valley

Correct Answer: (d) Chambal valley

7. Which among the following districts of Madhya Pradesh has a problem of soil erosion? [M.P.P.C.S.(PRE) 2008]

(a) Jabalpur
(b) Bhopal
(c) Morena
(d) Khandwa

Correct Answer: (c) Morena

Solution:In Madhya Pradesh, the problem of soil erosion is mostly found in Chambal valley where channel formation is very common and known as Chambal ravines. Soil contents are characterized by soft and alluvial soil, which help in the formation of these channels. Mainly Morena, Bhind, Gwalior and Shivpuri have become barren and infertile due to gully erosion by various rivers.

8. Which one of the following types of erosion is responsible for the formation of Chambal Ravines? [I.A.S. (Pre) 1994]

(a) Splash
(b) Sheet
(c) Rill
(d) Gully

Correct Answer: (d) Gully

Solution:

After viewing the map of soil erosion in India, it is clear that Gully Erosion is responsible for the formation of Chambal Ravines. Gully erosion is the removal of soil along drainage lines by surface water runoff.
When rills increase in size, they become gullies. Once started, gullies will continue to move by headwards erosion or by slumping of the side walls. Gullies formed over a large area gives rise to badland topography (Chambal Ravines). When a gully bed is eroded further due to headwards erosion, the bed gradually deepens and flattens out, and a ravine is formed. The depth of a ravine may extend to 30 meters or more. Further erosion of ravine beds gives rise to canyons. Canyons are few hundred meters deep and wide.

9. Identify the correct order of the process of soil-erosion from the following: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2001]

(a) Splash erosion, Sheet erosion, Rill erosion, Gully erosion
(b) Sheet erosion, Splash erosion, Gully erosion, Rill erosion
(c) Rill erosion, , Gully erosion, Sheet erosion, Splash erosion
(d) Gully erosion, Rill erosion, Sheet erosion, Splash erosion

Correct Answer: (a) Splash erosion, Sheet erosion, Rill erosion, Gully erosion

Solution:The correct order of the process of soil erosion is given below:

i. Raindrop or Splash erosion: Erosion preceded by the destruction of the crumb structure due to the impact of falling raindrop on the surface of the soil is termed as splash erosion.

ii. Sheet erosion: It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often scarcely perceptible, especially when caused by wind. Areas. where loose, shallow topsoil overlies compact soil are
most susceptible to sheet erosion.

iii. Rill erosion: A form of water erosion in which numerous very small and more or less straight channels are produced; the channels get obliterated by ordinary use. It can be removed by normal tillage operations.

iv. Gully erosion: A form of water erosion in which gullies are produced by a combination of unattended rills.

v. Stream Channel erosion: Stream banks are eroded by water either flowing over the sides of a stream or scouring at the base. It is aggravated by removal of vegetation, overgrazing or cultivation near the stream banks.

10. Farmland tends to erode most rapidly when planted with: [I.A.S. (Pre) 1994]

(a) Sorghum
(b) Potato
(c) Wheat
(d) Clover

Correct Answer: (a) Sorghum

Solution:According to an analysis of the World Wildlife Fund, farm land tends to erode most rapidly when planted with sorghum while clover causes minimum soil erosion in given options.

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