Class 12 Geography chapter 3 ncert solutions: land resources and agriculture class 12 questions and answers
| Textbook | Ncert |
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | Geography |
| Chapter | Chapter 3 |
| Chapter Name | land resources and agriculture class 12 ncert solutions |
| Category | Ncert Solutions |
| Medium | English |
Are you looking for class 12 geography chapter 3 question answer? Now you can download Land Resources and Agriculture question answer pdf from here.
Question 1: Choose the right answers of the following from the given options.
Question 1.(i): Which one of the following is NOT a land-use category?
(a) Fallow land
(b) Marginal land
(c) Net Area Sown
(d) Culturable Wasteland
Answer 1.(i): (b) Marginal land
Question 1.(ii): What one of the following is the main reason due to which share of forest has shown an increase in the last forty years?
(a) Extensive and efficient efforts of afforestation
(b) Increase in community forest land
(c) Increase in notified area allocated for forest growth
(d) Better peoples’ participation in managing forest area.
Answer 1.(ii): (c) Increase in notified area allocated for forest growth
Question 1.(iii): Which one of the following is the main form of degradation in irrigated areas?
(a) Gully erosion
(b) Wind erosion
(c) Salinisation of soils
(d) Siltation of land
Answer 1.(iii): (c) Salinisation of soils
Question 1.(iv): Which one of the following crops is not cultivated under diyland farming?
(a) Ragi
(b) Jowar
(c) Groundnut
(d) Sugarcane
Answer 1.(iv): (d) Sugarcane
Question 1.(v): In which of the following group of countries of the world, HYVs of wheat and rice were developed?
(a) Japan and Australia
(b) U.S.A. and Japan
(c) Mexico and Philippines
(d) Mexico and Singapore
Answer 1.(v): (c) Mexico and Philippines
Question 2: Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
Question 2.(i): Differentiate between barren and wasteland and culturable wasteland.
Answer 2.(i): Difference Between Barren and Wasteland and Culturable Wasteland:
| Aspect | Barren and Wasteland | Culturable Wasteland |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Land that is unfit for cultivation, habitation, or any productive use due to natural or human-induced conditions. | Land that is currently not being used for cultivation but can be made productive with effort and investment. |
| Suitability for Cultivation | Not suitable for cultivation due to permanent factors like rocky terrain, extreme aridity, or saline soil. | Can be brought under cultivation with improvements such as soil treatment, irrigation, or reclamation. |
| Examples | Rocky hills, deserts, saline areas. | Degraded agricultural lands, fallow lands, or lands with minor waterlogging issues. |
| Potential for Recovery | Very low or no potential for recovery into productive land. | Moderate to high potential for recovery with intervention. |
| Usage | Limited to non-agricultural purposes like mining, grazing, or as natural reserves. | Can be used for agriculture, forestry, or pasture after proper development. |
Question 2.(ii): How would you distinguish between net sown area and gross cropped area?
Answer 2.(ii): Difference Between Net Sown Area and Gross Cropped Area:
| Aspect | Net Sown Area | Gross Cropped Area |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The total area of land where crops are sown and grown during a single agricultural year. | The total area of land used for cropping, including multiple cropping cycles in a year. |
| Cropping Intensity | Refers to land cultivated only once during an agricultural year. | Includes areas cultivated more than once in the same agricultural year. |
| Calculation | Measured as the actual physical area sown with crops. | Includes the net sown area plus areas sown more than once (e.g., double or triple cropping). |
| Usage | Indicates the extent of agricultural land under primary use for cultivation. | Reflects the overall intensity and utilization of the land for agriculture. |
| Formula | Area sown during one agricultural cycle. | Gross Cropped Area = Net Sown Area + Area Sown More Than Once |
| Example | If a field is used to grow rice once a year, it is part of the net sown area. | If the same field is used to grow rice and then wheat in the same year, it is counted twice in the gross cropped area. |
Question 2.(iii): Why is the strategy of increasing cropping intensity important in a country like India?
Answer 2.(iii): The strategy of increasing crop intensity aims at increasing the productivity of a piece of land by increasing the number of times it is cultivated in a year. It aims at increasing the productivity of agriculture by increasing the productivity of the already cultivated areas. It is important for countries like India where there is a dearth of land so it is difficult to bring new pieces of land under cultivation to meet the ever-increasing demand of the rising population.
Question 2.(iv): How do you measure total cultivable land?
Answer 2.(iv): Total cultivable land is the entire land that can be cultivated either in the current state or after reclaiming it through the available technologies. It is a sum of total culturable wasteland, Fallow other than current fallow, current fallow, and net sown area.
Question 2.(v): What is the difference between dryland and wetland farming?
Answer 2.(v): Difference Between Dryland Farming and Wetland Farming:
| Aspect | Dryland Farming | Wetland Farming |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A type of farming practiced in regions with low or erratic rainfall, usually below 75 cm annually. | A type of farming practiced in regions with high rainfall or in areas with sufficient water for irrigation. |
| Water Availability | Relies primarily on rainwater and moisture conservation techniques. | Depends on abundant natural rainfall or artificial irrigation. |
| Crops Grown | Drought-resistant crops like millets, pulses, and oilseeds. | Water-intensive crops like rice, jute, and sugarcane. |
| Soil Preparation | Requires methods to conserve soil moisture, such as deep plowing and mulching. | Focuses on water management and drainage systems to prevent waterlogging. |
| Geographical Areas | Common in arid and semi-arid regions (e.g., Rajasthan, parts of Deccan Plateau). | Found in regions with high rainfall (e.g., West Bengal, coastal areas). |
| Farming Practices | Includes techniques like crop rotation, intercropping, and use of drought-tolerant seeds. | Emphasizes irrigation systems, puddling (for rice), and water retention. |
| Challenges | Water scarcity, soil erosion, and low crop yield. | Risks of waterlogging, salinity, and over-reliance on water-intensive crops. |
Question 3: Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words.
Question 3.(i): What are the different types of environmental problems of land resources in India?
Answer 3.(i): In India, land resources face several environmental problems that significantly impact agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and overall sustainability. Soil erosion is one of the major issues, where wind and water remove topsoil, reducing soil fertility and making land unfit for cultivation. Desertification and land degradation are prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions, caused by factors like overgrazing, deforestation, and improper farming practices, leading to a loss of productive land.
Waterlogging, caused by excessive irrigation or poor drainage systems, reduces soil aeration, making it difficult for crops to grow. Salinization is another problem, where the accumulation of salts in the soil due to improper irrigation methods decreases land productivity, especially in regions like Punjab and Haryana. Deforestation leads to the depletion of forest cover, contributing to soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.
Urbanization and industrialization further contribute to the conversion of agricultural land into non-agricultural uses, reducing the availability of arable land. Additionally, over-exploitation of land resources through continuous monoculture farming and excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides deteriorates soil health. These environmental problems require comprehensive land management strategies to ensure sustainable land use and long-term agricultural productivity.
Question 3.(ii): What are the important strategies for agricultural development followed in the post-independence period in India?
Answer 3.(ii): After Independence, the immediate goal of the Government was to increase foodgrains production by (i) switching over from cash crops to food crops ; (ii) intensification of cropping over already cultivated land ; and (iii) increasing cultivated area by bringing cultivable and fallow land under plough. Initially, this strategy helped in increasing foodgrains production.
But agricultural production stagnated during late 1950s. To overcome this problem, Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP) and Intensive Agricultural Area Programme (IAAP) were launched. But two consecutive droughts during mid-1960s resulted in food crisis in the country. Consequently, the food grains were imported from other countries.