State the various causes of land degradation.

Question – State the various causes of land degradation.

Answer –

Land degradation refers to a loss/ decline in the fertility/productivity of land and the quality of the soil.

In India, land suffers from varying degrees and types of degradation because of unstable use and inappropriate management practices. This leads to loss of valuable nutrients and loss of fertility,

Causes of land degradation

It occurs mainly because of soil erosion (due to water and wind) and waterlogging alkalinity and salinity).

Some of the other factors are:

1. Loss of vegetation due to deforestation.
2. Overgrazing and forest fire.
3. Encroachment of forest land.
4.  Improper crop rotation.
5. Indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides.
6. Improper planning and management of the irrigation system.
7.  Shifting cultivation.
8. The poverty of the agriculture-dependent people.
9.  Excessive extraction of groundwater.
10. Inadequate soil conservation measures.

About 174 million hectares (50% of total land area) are suffering from the problem of land degradation. Out of 174 million hectares, 144 million hectares suffer from soil erosion through water and wind.

Related Questions – 

• State the various causes of land degradation.
• What do you mean by sustainable development? What does it aim to ensure?
• Briefly discuss the concept of air pollution
• How does poverty lead to degradation of environment?
• Enumerate some of the ways to control air pollution
• State the functions of pollution control boards
• State the strategies needed to achieve sustainable development.
• What is deforestation? Mention its adverse effects.
• State and discuss any two environmental concerns faced by India in the present times.
• State and discuss any two principal causes of environmental degradation
• Describe any one strategy of sustainable development.