Question

what is land degradation and what its major causes

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Land degradation is a global problem largely related to agricultural use

Causes of land degradation:

Mining sites are abandoned after the excavation work is done, Reaving deep scars of overburdening. In states like Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, deforestation due to mining has caused severe land degradation.

Overgrazing in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra is one of the main reasons behind land degradation.

Overirrigation and waterlogging lead to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, thereby leading to land degradation.

Mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry and calcite and soapstone for ceremic industry generate huge quantities of dust in the atmosphere. It stops the infiltration of water in the soil.

Industrial effluents as wastes have become a major source of land and water pollution in many parts of the country.

Ways to check land degradation:

Afforestation and proper management of grazing can help to check land degradation.

Planting of shelter belts help in checking the sand causing land degradation near the deserts.

Overgrazing can be checked and avoided.

Stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes can also check land degradation.

Proper management of waste land can be taken up.

Control on mining activities, so that mining does not affect the land and by refilling the scars.

Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land and water degradation in industrial areas.

Answer 2

Answer:

• Land degradation is a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by a combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land.

• It causes Loss of natural fertility of soil because of loss of nutrients, Less vegetation cover, Changes in the characteristic of soil, Pollution of water resources and Changes in climatic conditions.

• The main causes of land degradation are - Deforestation, overgrazing leading to a reduced growth of vegetation, reduced diversity of plant species, excessive growth of unwanted plant species, soil erosion, and degradation of land due to cattle movement, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, Industrialization, and Urbanization.