MP Board · Class 10 · Social Science · Geography: Resources and DevelopmentExplain the major causes of land degradation in India and suggest effective conservation measures to control land degradation.

Land degradation refers to the loss of natural fertility and quality of soil, making it unsuitable for cultivation and ecological balance. In India, approximately 130 million hectares of land is degraded.

Major Causes of Land Degradation in India:

1. Deforestation and Mining: Human activities such as clearing forests and mining cause severe land damage. States like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha have suffered heavy land degradation due to mining activities that leave deep scars and debris behind.
2. Overgrazing: Continuous grazing by livestock depletes the vegetative cover. In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, overgrazing is one of the primary reasons for land degradation.
3. Over-Irrigation: In agricultural states like Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, excessive irrigation leads to waterlogging. This increases the salinity and alkalinity of the soil, rendering it unfertile.
4. Industrial Effluents: Untreated industrial liquid waste and toxic effluents pollute the surrounding soil and water bodies, leading to long-term soil toxicity.
5. Mineral Processing: Industrial processes such as grinding limestone for the cement industry generate immense mineral dust that settles on the ground, retarding the infiltration of rain water into the soil.

Conservation Measures to Control Land Degradation:

1. Afforestation: Planting trees on a large scale helps bind the soil and reduces wind and water erosion.
2. Proper Grazing Management: Regulating grazing areas prevents the destruction of natural grass cover.
3. Shelterbelts and Dune Stabilization: Planting shelterbelts of plants and growing thorny bushes help stabilize sand dunes in arid regions like Rajasthan.
4. Industrial Waste Treatment: Discharging industrial waste only after proper treatment prevents chemical pollution of soil.
5. Terrace Farming and Contour Ploughing: Adopting these techniques in hilly terrains reduces run-off and soil erosion.