Lecture Notes: Resources and Their Classification

Introduction

• Resources: Assets available in our environment for use.
• Classification Basis: Origin, exhaustibility, ownership, status of development.

Classification of Resources

1. Origin

• Biotic: Life-based (e.g., humans, flora, fauna, fisheries, livestock).
• Abiotic: Non-living (e.g., rocks, minerals).

2. Exhaustibility

• Renewable: Can reproduce and renew (e.g., solar, wind energy, water, forests, wildlife).
• Non-renewable: Cannot be renewed quickly; takes millions of years (e.g., metals, fossil fuels).

3. Ownership

• Individual: Private property (e.g., personal land, house).
• Community: Property accessible to community (e.g., parks, picnic spots).
• National: Resources belonging to a nation (e.g., national parks, forests, minerals, wildlife, etc., within 12 nautical miles of territorial waters [22.2 km]).
• International: Regulated by international institutions (e.g., oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles [370.4 km]).

4. Status of Development

• Potential: Known but not yet used (e.g., solar and wind energy in Gujarat and Rajasthan).
• Developed: Fully surveyed and assessed in terms of quantity and quality, and utilized using technology.
• Stocks: Environmental substances that have potential but lack current technological means for utilization (e.g., water comprised of hydrogen and oxygen).
• Reserves: Accessible with current technology and fulfilling future requirements.

Importance of Resource Planning

• Ensures sustainable development and prevents ecological crises (e.g., global warming, ozone depletion, pollution, land degradation).
• Complex process involving identification, inventory creation, planning structure, technological implementation, and institutional setup.

Land Resources and Agriculture

• Land Utilization: Classified into forests, uncultivated land, fallow lands, net sown area, gross cropped area.
• Geographical Distribution: 43% agricultural plains, 30% mountainous regions, 27% plateaus.
• Soil Types: Alluvial, black, red and yellow, laterite, arid, forest soils.

Types of Soils

• Alluvial Soil: Found in northern plains, coastal regions, and made of sand, silt, clay. Fertile; good for sugarcane, paddy, cereals, pulses.
• Black Soil: Ideal for cotton; found in Deccan Trap, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh regions.
• Red and Yellow Soil: Found in Deccan Plateau, parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Ganga plains; formed by crystalline igneous rocks.
• Laterite Soil: Formed in tropical/subtropical climates with alternating wet and dry seasons. Found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.
• Arid Soil: Found in dry climates such as western Rajasthan; sandy texture with high salt content.
• Forest Soil: Found in hilly/mountainous regions with sufficient rainfall.

Soil Erosion and Conservation

• Causes: Human activities leading to depletion.
• Conservation: Measures to maintain soil health for future generations.

Conclusion

• Sustainable Use: Importance of resource planning and conservation for future sustainability.
• Soil Health: Vital for agriculture and ecological balance.