ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

UNIT1
DEFINITION, SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that explores the interactions between humans
and the natural environment. It combines knowledge from various scientific disciplines—such as
biology, chemistry, geology, and physics—to understand how natural processes work and how
human activities impact the environment.

Key areas of focus in environmental science include:

1. Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Studying the relationships between organisms and their
habitats, and the importance of preserving diverse biological communities.
2. Pollution and Waste Management: Investigating sources, effects, and solutions for air,
water, and soil pollution, as well as strategies for managing and reducing waste.
3. Climate Change: Examining the causes and consequences of changes in global climate
patterns and assessing strategies for mitigation and adaptation.
4. Resource Management: Analyzing the use and conservation of natural resources like
water, minerals, and energy.
5. Sustainability: Developing practices and policies aimed at maintaining ecological
balance and ensuring that resources are available for future generations.

Overall, environmental science aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental

issues and to promote solutions that protect and sustain the natural world.

IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Studying environmental science is crucial for several reasons:

1. Understanding Ecosystems: It helps us comprehend how ecosystems function and how

different components—plants, animals, microorganisms, and abiotic factors—interact.
This understanding is vital for conserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem health.
 2. Addressing Environmental Challenges: Environmental science provides the knowledge
needed to tackle pressing issues such as pollution, climate change, deforestation, and loss
of biodiversity. By understanding these problems, we can develop effective strategies and
policies to address them.
3. Promoting Sustainable Development: It informs practices that balance human needs
with environmental protection. Studying environmental science aids in creating
sustainable solutions that support economic development while preserving natural
resources for future generations.
4. Enhancing Public Health: Many environmental issues, such as air and water pollution,
directly impact human health. Environmental science helps identify and mitigate these
risks, leading to healthier communities.
5. Informed Decision-Making: Knowledge of environmental science supports informed
decision-making at individual, community, and governmental levels. It ensures that
decisions consider environmental impacts and sustainability.
6. Conservation Efforts: It underpins conservation strategies by providing insights into
species' needs and the impacts of human activities on natural habitats. This knowledge is
crucial for protecting endangered species and preserving natural landscapes.
7. Educating and Empowering: It raises awareness about environmental issues and
empowers individuals and communities to take action. Education in environmental
science fosters a sense of responsibility and encourages environmentally friendly
behaviors.
8. Policy Development: Environmental science informs the creation and implementation of
laws and regulations aimed at protecting the environment. It provides the scientific basis
for policy decisions and helps ensure that policies are effective and evidence-based.
9. Innovation and Technology: It drives the development of new technologies and
methods for environmental protection and resource management. Innovations in this field
can lead to more efficient and sustainable practices.

Overall, studying environmental science is essential for building a sustainable future, enhancing
quality of life, and ensuring that natural systems continue to support both human and ecological
needs.
NATURAL RESOURCES:

Natural resources are materials or substances that occur in nature and can be used for economic
gain or for human survival. They are typically classified into two main categories:

1. Renewable Resources: These resources can be replenished naturally over time and are
sustainable if managed properly. Examples include:
o Solar Energy: Energy from the sun.
o Wind Energy: Energy generated from wind.
o Water Resources: Rivers, lakes, and oceans that provide water for drinking,
irrigation, and power generation.
o Biomass: Organic materials like wood, crop residues, and animal waste that can
be used as fuel or in other forms.
2. Non-Renewable Resources: These resources exist in finite quantities and cannot be
replenished on a human timescale once they are depleted. Examples include:
o Fossil Fuels: Coal, oil, and natural gas formed from the remains of ancient plants
and animals over millions of years.
o Minerals: Metals like gold, silver, iron, and copper, as well as non-metallic
minerals like limestone and clay.
o Nuclear Energy: Derived from uranium and other radioactive elements.

Natural resources are crucial for the survival and development of human societies. They provide
the raw materials for food, shelter, energy, and industrial processes. However, the exploitation
and management of natural resources must be done sustainably to avoid environmental
degradation, resource depletion, and negative impacts on ecosystems.

NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEIR PROBLEMS

Natural resources are essential for human survival and economic development, but their
extraction, use, and management can lead to various problems. Here’s an overview of the issues
associated with different types of natural resources:
1. Fossil Fuels (Coal, Oil, Natural Gas)

 Environmental Degradation: Extraction and burning of fossil fuels contribute to air

pollution, acid rain, and habitat destruction.
 Climate Change: The combustion of fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon
dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, leading to global warming and climate
change.
 Resource Depletion: Fossil fuels are finite, and their continued use could lead to
depletion, causing energy crises in the future.
 Economic Dependency: Economies heavily reliant on fossil fuels face risks from
fluctuating prices and geopolitical tensions.

2. Minerals and Metals

 Mining Impacts: Mining operations can lead to soil erosion, deforestation, and
contamination of water sources with toxic chemicals.
 Waste Generation: Mining generates large amounts of waste, including tailings that can
be harmful to the environment.
 Human Rights Issues: In some regions, mining is associated with poor labor conditions,
child labor, and conflict financing (e.g., "blood diamonds").
 Resource Scarcity: Over-extraction of certain minerals can lead to shortages, affecting
industries dependent on these materials.

3. Water Resources

 Water Scarcity: Over-extraction of freshwater resources, especially in arid regions, leads

to water scarcity, affecting agriculture, drinking water supply, and ecosystems.
 Pollution: Industrial, agricultural, and household waste can contaminate water bodies,
leading to health hazards and loss of biodiversity.
 Conflicts: Water scarcity can lead to conflicts between different regions or countries,
particularly where water sources are shared.
  Climate Change: Changing weather patterns can alter the availability of water, leading
to droughts and floods.

4. Forests (Timber, Non-Timber Products)

 Deforestation: Large-scale logging, agriculture, and urbanization contribute to

deforestation, leading to loss of biodiversity, disruption of ecosystems, and increased
greenhouse gas emissions.
 Soil Erosion: The removal of trees exposes soil to erosion, reducing land fertility and
increasing the risk of landslides.
 Impact on Indigenous Communities: Deforestation can displace indigenous people who
rely on forests for their livelihoods.
 Climate Change: Forests act as carbon sinks, and their destruction exacerbates global
warming.

5. Biodiversity (Wildlife, Plant Species)

 Habitat Loss: Human activities like deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization lead to
habitat destruction, threatening wildlife and plant species with extinction.
 Overexploitation: Overhunting, overfishing, and excessive harvesting of plants can
deplete species populations.
 Invasive Species: The introduction of non-native species can disrupt ecosystems,
outcompeting or preying on native species.
 Pollution: Pollution from industrial activities, agriculture, and waste disposal can harm
wildlife and degrade habitats.

6. Renewable Energy Resources (Solar, Wind, Hydropower)

 Environmental Impact: While cleaner than fossil fuels, the construction of renewable
energy infrastructure can disrupt local ecosystems (e.g., dams affecting fish migration,
wind turbines impacting bird populations).
  Resource Competition: The land required for renewable energy projects can compete
with agriculture, conservation areas, and human settlements.
 Intermittency: Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are not always available,
requiring storage solutions or backup systems, which can be costly and technologically
challenging.

7. Agricultural Resources (Soil, Crops, Livestock)

 Soil Degradation: Intensive farming practices can lead to soil erosion, nutrient depletion,
and desertification.
 Water Use: Agriculture is a major consumer of water, and inefficient irrigation practices
can lead to water wastage and salinization of soils.
 Pesticide and Fertilizer Use: The excessive use of chemicals can lead to soil and water
pollution, as well as harm to non-target species, including pollinators like bees.
 Food Security: Over-reliance on a few crops or livestock breeds can reduce resilience to
pests, diseases, and climate change, threatening food security.

Addressing the Problems:

To mitigate these problems, sustainable management practices are essential. This includes:

 Conservation Efforts: Protecting natural habitats and promoting biodiversity.

 Sustainable Resource Management: Using resources efficiently and reducing waste.
 Renewable Energy Development: Transitioning to renewable energy sources to reduce
dependence on fossil fuels.
 Regulatory Frameworks: Implementing and enforcing laws and policies to protect the
environment and ensure fair distribution of resources.
 Community Involvement: Engaging local communities in the management and
protection of natural resources.
 Innovation and Technology: Developing new technologies for resource extraction,
energy generation, and pollution control that minimize environmental impact.
Forest resources use and over in environmental science:

In environmental science, forest resources refer to the various goods and services that forests
provide, which are crucial for both ecological balance and human well-being. These resources
can be categorized into tangible products like timber, fuelwood, and non-timber forest products
(NTFPs), as well as ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water regulation, soil
conservation, and biodiversity habitat.

Use of Forest Resources

1. Timber and Wood Products: Forests are a primary source of timber used in
construction, furniture, and paper products. The extraction of timber is a significant
economic activity but must be managed sustainably to prevent deforestation.
2. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs): These include items like fruits, nuts, medicinal
plants, resins, and fibers. NTFPs provide livelihood opportunities, especially in rural
communities, and are often harvested in a more sustainable manner compared to timber.
3. Fuelwood and Charcoal: In many parts of the world, especially in developing countries,
wood is a primary source of energy for cooking and heating. This use is sustainable at
low levels but can lead to deforestation if demand exceeds the forest's regenerative
capacity.
4. Recreation and Tourism: Forests offer recreational opportunities such as hiking,
camping, and wildlife observation, contributing to both mental health and economic
income through ecotourism.
5. Ecological Services: Beyond direct products, forests play a critical role in maintaining
environmental health by regulating the climate, purifying water, preventing soil erosion,
and serving as carbon sinks.
Overuse and Its Consequences

Overuse of forest resources, often referred to as deforestation or forest degradation, occurs

when the rate of resource extraction exceeds the forest's natural regeneration capacity. This can
lead to:

1. Loss of Biodiversity: Forests are home to a vast number of species. Overharvesting can
lead to habitat destruction, endangering plant and animal species.
2. Climate Change: Forests act as carbon sinks by absorbing CO2. When forests are
cleared or degraded, not only is this carbon storage capacity reduced, but the carbon
stored in trees is also released back into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
3. Soil Degradation: Without tree cover, soils are more susceptible to erosion, which can
lead to loss of soil fertility and desertification, reducing the land's ability to support
agriculture or other vegetation.
4. Disruption of Water Cycles: Forests play a key role in the water cycle by regulating
rainfall and maintaining the quality of water resources. Deforestation can lead to altered
rainfall patterns, increased flooding, and reduced water quality.
5. Impact on Indigenous Communities: Many indigenous and local communities depend
on forests for their livelihoods, culture, and way of life. Overuse and deforestation can
lead to displacement and loss of traditional knowledge and practices.

Sustainable Management

To prevent the overuse of forest resources, sustainable forest management practices are essential.
These include:

 Selective Logging: Instead of clear-cutting, only selected trees are harvested, allowing
the forest to regenerate.
 Agroforestry: Integrating trees into agricultural landscapes to provide forest resources
while maintaining agricultural productivity.
 Reforestation and Afforestation: Planting trees in deforested areas (reforestation) or in
areas that were not previously forested (afforestation).
  Protected Areas: Establishing national parks, wildlife reserves, and conservation areas to
protect forests from exploitation.

Would you like to explore sustainable forest management practices further, or do you have
specific questions about the impact of deforestation? Here are a few questions you might
consider next:

1. How does deforestation affect global climate patterns?

2. What are some successful case studies of sustainable forest management?
3. What role do forests play in the global carbon cycle?

Tip: When discussing forest resources, it's important to consider both the direct economic
benefits and the broader ecological services they provide, as the latter often have far-reaching
implications for environmental stability.

Exploitation of forest resources refers to the extraction of these resources for economic gain.
This can include activities like logging, mining, agricultural expansion, and the harvesting of
non-timber forest products. When done unsustainably, exploitation leads to deforestation, which
is the large-scale clearing or thinning of forests.

Exploitation of Forest Resources

 Logging: The commercial cutting of trees for timber and wood products. Unsustainable
logging practices, such as clear-cutting or illegal logging, can lead to significant forest
loss.
 Agricultural Expansion: Forests are often cleared to make way for agriculture,
including crops like soy, palm oil, and livestock grazing. This is a major driver of
deforestation, especially in tropical regions.
 Mining: The extraction of minerals and fossil fuels can lead to deforestation, particularly
when large areas of forest are cleared for mines and related infrastructure.
 Infrastructure Development: Roads, dams, and urban expansion also contribute to
forest loss as land is cleared for construction.
  Fuelwood Collection: In many developing countries, forests are exploited for fuelwood
and charcoal. Overharvesting for these purposes can lead to degradation, especially in
densely populated areas.

Dams: Today there are more than 45,000 large dams around the world, which play an important
role
in communities and economies that harness these water resources for their economic
development. Current
estimates suggest some 30-40% of irrigated land worldwide relies on dams. Hydropower,
another important
the use of stored water, currently supplies 19% of the world‘s total electric power supply and is
used in over
150 countries. The world‘s two most populous countries – China and India –have built around
57% of the
world‘s large dams.
Dam problems, Dams are the massive artificial structures built across the rivers to store water
for much
beneficial purpose. Dams are considered a ―Temples of modern India‖. Dams destruct vast
area of forest
area. India has more than 1600 large dams.
Effects of dams on forest:
1. Thousands of hectares of forest will be cleared.
2. Killing of wild animals and destruction of aquatic life.
3. Spreading of water borne diseases.
4. Water logging increases the salinity of the soil. Ex: Narmadha Sagar project it has submerged
3.5 lakhs
hectares of forest.
Effects of dam on tribal people
1. Construction of big dams lead to the displacement of tribal people.
2. Displacement and cultural change affects the tribal people both mentally and physically.
3. They do not accommodate the modern food habits and life style.
4. Tribal people are ill-treated by the modern society.

Mining: The process of extracting mineral resources and fossil fuels like coal from the earth is
called
as mining.
Types of mining
1. Surface mining: Mining of minerals from shallow deposits
2. Underground mining: Mining of minerals from deep deposits
Steps involved in mining
1. Exploration
2. Development
3. Exploitation
4. Ore processing
5. Extraction and purification of minerals
The extent of damage by underground mining is more than that of surface mining, which needs
enormous amount of land area for its operation and management.
Effects of mining
1. Pollute soil, water and air.
2. Destruction of natural habitat.
3. Continuous removal of minerals leads to the formation of trench where water is logged which
contaminates the ground water.
4. Vibrations cause earth quakes.
5. Produces noise pollution
6. Reduces shape and size of the forest.
7. Increased risk of landslides.
8. Spoils the aesthetic beauty.

Water Resources
Water claims to be an important resource. An important use of water in our country is for
irrigation.
Besides, water is also required in large amounts for industrial and domestic consumption.
 Is essential for all forms of life.
 Many uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental
activities.
Virtually, all of these human uses require fresh water.
 No plant or animal species can survive without water. If water in our body drops by 1% we
feel thirst, if it
drops by 10% we face death.

Hydrological Cycle: Water from various water bodies

Evaporated by solar energy
Enters in to the atmosphere as clouds
Falls again on earth as rain or snow
Ultimately returns to the ocean.
Distribution of Water Resources
Fresh water resources
Surface water Underground water
Standing water bodies flowing water bodies
Underground Water
Aquifer: Layers of highly permeable rock that can store water is called an aquifer. Layer of sand
and gravels
are good aquifers. Clay and crystalline rocks are not good aquifers.
Effects of over utilization of water
1. Decrease of ground water:
a) Increased usage decreases the ground water.
b) Insufficient rain fall
c) Building construction activities sealing the permeability of the soil.
2. Ground subsidence: If ground water withdrawal is greater than its recharge rate, then the
sediments in
the aquifers get compacted. As a result shrinkage of land surface takes place.
Problems: a. Structural damages to the buildings
b. Fracture in pipes.
c. Reversing the flow of canals.
3. Lowering of water table: Over utilization of ground water in arid and semi-arid regions for
agriculture
disturbs the state of equilibrium of the hydrological cycle.

Problem: a. lowering of water table

b. Decrease the number of aquifers
c. Change the speed and direction of water.
4. Intrusion of salt water: In coastal area over exploitation of ground water leads to the
intrusion of salt
water from sea. Therefore that water cannot be used for drinking and agriculture.
5. Over utilization of water causes earth quakes, landslides and famines.
6. Drying up of wells: Due to over utilization, ground water level decreases much faster than
can be
regenerated. It leads to drying up of dug well and bore wells.
7. Pollution of water: Near the agricultural land ground water decreases therefore water
containing nitrogen
enters into the ground and pollutes the ground water.
Reasons for Decline of Ground Water
Population continues to rise at an unprecedented and unsustainable rate; many more areas are
expected to
experience this imbalance in the near future.
1. Population explosion: World population is > 6 billion and will continue to increase
significantly during
the next few decades - Enormous demands on the world‘s limited freshwater supply. The total
annual
freshwater withdrawals today are estimated at 3800 cubic kilometers, twice as much as just 50
years ago
(World Commission on Dams, 2000).
2. Overutilization of Surface and Groundwater: Occurs at various levels. Use of more water
than really
needed by human beings. Many agriculturists use more water than necessary to grow crops.
Industries in
order to maximize short-term economic gains, does not bother its liquid waste and releases it into
streams,
rivers and the sea.
3. Deforestation: Once hill slopes are removed of forest cover, the rainwater rushes down the
rivers and is
lost. Forest cover permits water to be held in the area permitting it to seep into the ground. This
charges the
underground stores of water in natural aquifers. This can be used in drought years if the stores
have been
filled during a good monsoon. This soil and water management and afforestation are long-term
measures that
reduce the impact of droughts.
4. Hydropower generation: Large amount of water is used for generating power which
otherwise used for
human needs.
5. Dams - for Agriculture and Power Generation

Flood: It is an over flow of water. It happens when the magnitude of flow of water exceeds the
carrying capacity of the channel within its bank.

Causes of Flood
1. Heavy rainfall, melting of snow and sudden release of water from dams. (Flash floods)
2. Reduction in the carrying capacity of the channel.
3. Deforestation, mining and over grazing increase the runoff from rains and the level of flood
raises.

Effect of Flood
1. Water spreads in the surrounding area and submerges them.
2. Cultivated land gets affected.
3. Extinction of civilization.
Flood Management
1. Floods can be controlled by dams.
2. Channel management control flood.
3. Flood hazards reduced by forecasting or flood warning.
4. Flood may also be reduced by reduction of run off by increasing infiltration through
appropriate
afforestation in the catchment area.

Drought: Drought is nothing but scarcity of water, which occurs due to

1. Inadequate rain fall
2. Late arrival of rain fall
3. Excessive withdrawal of ground water.
Lack of water for the needs of agriculture, livestock, industry or human population may be
termed as a
drought. Drought causes serious damages to plants, animals and human life.
Causes of Drought
1. When annual rain fall is below normal and less than evaporation, drought is created.
2. High population.
3. Intensive cropping pattern. Ex: Maharashtra - There has been no recovery from drought for the
last 30
years due to over exploitation of water by sugarcane crop.

Effects of Drought
1. Drought causes hunger, malnutrition and scarcity of drinking water an also changes the quality
of water.
2. Drought causes widespread crop failure leading to acute shortage of food and adversely affects
human
and livestock population.
 4. Worst situation of drought causes desertification.

4. Raw materials of agro based industries are critically affected during drought time, hence
industrial and
commercial growth decreases.
5. Drought increases the degradation of natural resources.
6. Drought causes large migration of people and urbanization.
Drought Management
1. Indigenous knowledge is essential.
2. Rain water harvesting system.
3. Construction of reservoirs to improve ground water level.
4. Modern irrigation technology (drip irrigation) very useful to conserve water.
5. Afforestation activities also improve the potential of water in the drought area.
6. Crop mixing and dry forming are the suitable methods which minimize the risk of crop
failures in dry area.

Dams: Dams made significant contributions to human development and the benefits derived
from
them have been considerable. Large dams are designed to control floods and to help the drought
prone areas,
with supply of water. But large dams have proved to cause severe environmental damage. Hence
an attempt
has been made to construct small dams. Multiple small dams have less impact on the
environment.
Benefits: Dams ensure a year round supply of water for domestic use and provide extra water for
agriculture, industries and hydropower generation.
Problems: They alter river flows, change nature‘s flood control mechanisms such as wetlands
and flood
plains, and destroy the lives of local people and the habitats of wild plant and animal species,
particularly is
the case with mega dams.
Some of the problems are mentioned below.
 Dam construction and submersion leads to significant loss of farmland and forest and land
submergence
 Siltation of reservoirs, water logging and in surrounding lands reduces agricultural
productivity
 Serious impacts on ecosystems- significant and irreversible loss of species and ecosystems,
deforestation and loss of biodiversity, affects aquaculture
 Socio economic problems for example, displacement, rehabilitation and resettlement of tribal
people.
 Fragmentation and physical transformation of rivers.

Mineral Resources
Naturally occurring inorganic crystalline solids with uniform chemical composition are called as
minerals.

Uses and Exploitation of Minerals

1. Development of industrial plants and machinery. - Fe, Al & Cu
2. Construction work – Fe, Al &Ni
3. Generation of energy - coal, lignite, uranium
4. Designing defense equipment‘s like weapons and ornaments
5. Agricultural purposes – fertilizers and fungicides – Zn & Mn
6. Jewellery –Au, Ag & Pt

Environmental Damages Caused By Mining Activities

1. Devegetation:
 Topsoil and vegetation get removed
 Deforestation leads to several ecological losses
 Land scape gets badly affected
2. Ground water contamination: Mining pollutes ground water; sulphur is converted into
sulphuric acid
which enters into the soil.
3. Surface water pollution: Radioactive wastes and other acidic impurities affect the surface
water, which
kills many aquatic animals.
4. Air pollution: Smelting and roasting are done to purify the metal which emits air pollutants
and damage
the nearby vegetation. It causes many health problems.
5. Subsidence of land: Mainly underground mining results in cracks in houses, tilting of
buildings and
bending of rail tracks.

Effects of Over Exploitation of Minerals

1. Rapid depletion of mineral deposits
2. Wastage
3. Environmental pollution
4. Needs heavy energy requirements.

Management of Mineral Resources

1. The efficient use and protection of mineral resources.
2. Modernization of mining industries
3. Search for new deposit
4. Reuse and recycling of the metals.
5. Environmental impacts can be minimized by adopting eco-friendly mining technology.

Food Resources
Food is an essential requirement for survival of life. Main components are carbohydrates, fats,
proteins,
minerals and vitamins.
Types of Food Supply
1. Crop plants: Grains mostly constitute about 76% of the world‘s food. Ex: Rice, Wheat and
Maize
2. Range lands: Produces 17% of world‘s food from trees and grazing animals. Ex: Fruits, milk
and meat
3. Ocean: Fisheries – 7% of world‘s food

World Food Problem

1. In the earth‘s surface, 79% is water out of total area. 21% land (forest, desert, mountain and
barren land).
Less% cultivated land, at the same time population explosion is high therefore world food
problem arises.
2. Environmental degradation like soil erosion, water logging, water pollution, salinity affects
agricultural
land.
5. Urbanization affects agricultural land. Hence production of rice, wheat, corn and other
vegetable is difficult.

Types of Nutrition
1. Nutritious nutrition: To maintain good health and disease resistance, we need large amount
of
carbohydrate, proteins, fats and smaller amount of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals
such as
Fe, Ca and iodine. Food and agricultural organization (FAO) of United Nations estimated that on
an
average, the minimum calorie intake on a global state is 2500 calories/day.
2. Under nutrition: People who cannot buy enough food to meet their basic energy needs suffer
from under
nutrition. They receive less than 90% of this minimum dietary calorie. Effect of under nutrition:
Suffer
from mental retardation and infectious diseases.
3. Mal nutrition: Besides minimum calorie intake we also need proteins, minerals, vitamins,
iron and
iodine. Deficiency leads to malnutrition resulting in several diseases.

Over Grazing
It is a process of eating the forest vegetation without giving a chance to regenerate.
Effects of Over Grazing
1. Land degradation
 Over grazing removing the cover of vegetation
 Exposed soil gets compacted
 Soil moisture reduces.
 Desertification - OG leads to poor, dry and compacted soil.
 Land cannot be used for further cultivation.
2. Soil erosion: When the grasses are removed the soil becomes loose and gets eroded by the
action of wind
and rain fall.
3. Loss of useful species: OG affects the plant population and their regenerating capacity. OG
replace the
plant of high nutritive value with plant of low nutritive value.

Agriculture
Agriculture is an art, science and industry of managing the growth of plants animals for human
use. It includes
cultivation of the soil, growing and harvesting crops, breeding and raising livestock, dairying and
forestry.

Types of Agriculture
1. Traditional agriculture
2. Modern (or) industrialized agriculture
1. Traditional agriculture
Small plot, simple tools, surface water, organic fertilizer and a mixture of crops constitute
traditional
agriculture. They produce enough food to feed their family and to sell it for their income.
2. Modern agriculture
Hybrid seeds of single crop variety, high tech equipment‘s, lot of fertilizers, pesticides and water
to produce
large amount of single crops.

Effects of Modern Agriculture

1. Problems in using fertilizers
a. Excess of fertilizers causes micronutrient imbalance. (e.g) Punjab and Haryana deficiency
of nutrient
zinc in the soil affect the productivity of the soil.
b. Blue baby syndrome (nitrate pollution): Nitrate present in the fertilizer causes blue baby
syndrome,
when the amount exceeds the limit leads to death.
c. Eutrophication: Nitrogen and phosphorus in the crop fields washed out by runoff water in the
water
bodies, which increases the nourishment of the lakes called eutrophication. Hence algal species
increases rapidly. Life time of the species is less and they decompose easily and pollute the water
which affects the
aquatic life.
2. Problems in using pesticides
1. Death of non-target organism.
2. Producing new pest – super pest
3. Bio magnification – Most of the pesticides are non-biodegradable, keep on concentrating in
the food
chain and it is harmful to human beings.
4. Risk of cancer:
a. It directly acts as carcinogen
b. It indirectly supports immune system.
3. Water logging: Land where water stand for most of the year.
Causes of water logging:
1. Excessive water supply
2. Heavy rain
3. Poor drainage
Remedy:
1. Preventing excessive irrigation
2. Subsurface drainage technology
3. Bio drainage like trees like Eucalyptus

Energy Resources
Energy Distribution in the World
 Developed countries like USA and Canada constitute only 5% of the world‘s population but
consume
25% of the world‘s available energy.
 Energy consumed by a person in a developed country for a single day is equal to energy
consumed by a
single person in a poor country for one year.
 Developed country GNP increases and energy consumption increases. In the poor country
GNP and
energy consumption are less.
Types of Energy Resources:
1. Renewable energy resource (or) Non-conventional energy resources
2. Nonrenewable energy resources (or) Conventional energy resources

Renewable Energy Sources: Energy which can be regenerated.

Merits
1. Unlimited supply
2. Provides energy security.
3. Fits into sustainable development concept.
4. Reliable and the devices are modular in size.
5. Decentralized energy production.
Types of renewable energy resources
1. Solar energy: Nuclear fusion reaction of sun produces enormous amount of energy. Several
techniques
are available for collecting, storing and using solar energy. Uses: It is used in calculators,
electronic
watches, street light, water pumps etc.
2. Wind energy: Moving air is called wind. The energy recovered from the force of the wind is
called wind
energy It‘s speed is high.
Condition: Minimum speed for wind generator is 15 Km/hr
Advantages: a) It does not cause air pollution b) Very cheap

3. Ocean energy:
Tidal energy (or) Tidal power: Ocean tides are due to gravitational force of sun and moon
which produce
enormous amount of energy. High tides – rise of water in the ocean. Low tides – fall of water in
the ocean.
Tidal energy can be used by constructing a tidal barrage. During high tides sea water enters into
the reservoirs
and rotates the turbine, produce electricity. During low tides water from reservoir enters into the
sea rotate the
turbine produce electricity.
Ocean thermal energy: Temperature difference between surface water and deeper level water in
ocean
generates electricity. The energy available due to the difference in temperature of water is called
ocean
thermal energy.
Geo thermal energy: Temperature of the earth increases at a of 20 –750C per/km when we
move down the
earth. The energy utilized from the high temperature present inside the earth is called geothermal
energy.

4. Bio mass energy:

Bio mass: Organic matter produced by plants or animals used as source of energy
Bio gas: Mixture of methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. Methane is the major
constituent. It is
obtained by anaerobic fermentation of animal dung (or) plant wastes in the presence of water.
Anaerobic
degradation means break down of organic matter by bacteria in the absence of oxygen.

Air-tight digestion/degradation of the animal wastes is safe as it eliminates health hazards which
normally
occur in case of direct use of dung due to direct exposure to faecal pathogens and parasites.
Biogas plants used
in our country are basically of two types:
1. Floating gas-holder type and
2. Fixed-dome type.
1. Floating gas holder type biogas plant: This type has a well-shaped digester tank which is
placed under the
ground and made up of bricks. In the digester tank, over the dung slurry an inverted steel drum
floats to hold
the bio-gas produced. The gas holder can move which is controlled by a pipe and the gas outlet is
regulated by
a valve. The digester tank has a partition wall and one side of it receives the dung water mixture
through inlet
pipe while the other side discharges the spent slurry through outlet pipe.
2. Fixed dome type biogas plant: The structure is almost similar to that of the previous type.
However,
instead of a steel gas-holder there is dome shaped roof made of cement and bricks. Instead of
partitioning,
here there is a single unit in the main digester but it has inlet and outlet chambers
Bio fuels: Fuels obtained by the fermentation of biomass. Ex: Ethanol, methanol
Ethanol: Produced from sugar cane. Calorific value is less.
Methanol: Obtained from ethanol Calorific value too less.
Gasohol: Mixture of ethanol and gasoline India trial is going on to use gasohol in cars and buses.
Hydrogen fuel: Hydrogen produced by pyrolysis, photolysis and electrolysis of water. It has high
calorific
value. It is non-polluting as the combustion product is water.

Non-Renewable Energy Sources:

Energy which cannot be regenerated is called as non-renewable.
1. Coal: It is a solid fossil fuel.

Disadvantages:
1. When coal is burnt large amount of CO2 is released which causes global warming.
2. S, N produces toxic gases during burning.
2. Petroleum: Crude oil is a liquid consists of more than hundreds of hydrocarbons and small
amount of
impurities. The petroleum can be refined by fractional distillation. In the world level 25% of oil
reserves
are in Saudi Arabia. At present rate of usage, the world crude oil reserves are expected to get
exhausted in
just 40 years.
3. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG): Petroleum gases obtained during FD and cracking can be
easily
converted into liquid under high pressure as LPG. It is colorless and odorless gas, but during
cylindering
mercaptans are added to detect leakage.
4. Natural gas: These are found above oil in oil wells. It is a mixture of methane and other
hydrocarbons.
Calorific value is high. There are two types. Dry gas and wet gas.
5. Nuclear energy: Dr. H. Bhabha is father of nuclear power development in India. 10 nuclear
reactors are
present in India. It produces 2% of India‘s electricity.
Nuclear energy can be produced by two types of reactions.
Nuclear fission; It is a nuclear change in which heavier nucleus split into lighter nuclei on
bombardment
of fast moving neutrons. Large amount of energy is released through chain reaction. Ex:
Uranium with
fast moving neutron gives barium and krypton in addition to three neutrons; in the second stage it
gives
nine neutrons and so on. This process of propagation of the reaction by multiplication is called
chain
reaction.
Nuclear fussion: It is a nuclear change in which lighter nucleus is combined together at
extremely high
temperature (1 billion0C) to form heavier nucleus and a large amount of energy is released. Ex:
Nuclear
fusion reaction can also take place between one Hydrogen-2 (Deuterium) and one Hydrogen-3
(Tritium)
nucleus at 100 million °C forming Helium-4 nucleus, one neutron and a huge amount of energy.

Land Resources
Land as a Resource:
Land is a finite and valuable resource upon which we depend for our food, fiber and fuel wood,
the basic amenities of
life. Soil, especially the top soil, is classified as a renewable resource because it is continuously
regenerated by natural
process though at a very slow rate.
Land Degradation:
With increase in the population growth, the demand of limited land resources is getting degraded
due to overexploitation.
Soil degradation is a real cause of alarm because soil formation is an extremely slow process.
Soil
erosion, water-logging, salinization and contamination of the soil with industrial wastes like fly-
ash, pressmud
or heavy metals all cause degradation of land.

Soil Erosion:
Soil erosion is defined as the movement of soil components, especially surface litter and top soil
from one
place to another. Soil erosion results in the loss of fertility because it is the top soil layer which is
fertile.
Soil erosion is basically of two types based upon the cause of erosion:
(i) Normal erosion or geologic erosion: caused by the gradual removal of top soil by natural
processes
which bring equilibrium between physical, biological and hydrological activities and maintain a
natural
balance between erosion and renewal.
(ii) Accelerated erosion: This is mainly caused by anthropogenic (man-made) activities and the
rate of
erosion is much faster than the rate of formation of soil. Overgrazing, deforestation and mining
are some
important activities causing accelerated erosion.

Soil Conservation Practices

In order to prevent soil erosion and conserve the soil the following conservation practices are
employed
(i) Conservational till farming: Conservational till farming, popularly known as no-till-farming
causes
minimum disturbance to the top soil. Here special tillers break up and loosen the subsurface soil
without
turning over the topsoil. The tilling machines make slits in the unploughed soil and inject seeds,
fertilizers,
herbicides and a little water in the slit, so that the seed germinates and the crop grows
successfully without
competition with weeds.
(ii) Contour farming: On gentle slopes, crops are grown in rows across, rather than up and
down, a practice
known as contour farming. Each row planted horizontally along the slope of the land acts as a
small dam to
help hold soil and slow down loss of soil through run-off water.
(iii) Terracing: It is used on still steeper slopes are converted into a series of broad terraces
which run
across the contour. Terracing retains water for crops at all levels and cuts down soil erosion by
controlling
run off.
(iv) Strip cropping: Here strips of crops are alternated with strips of soil saving covercrops like
grasses or
grass-legume mixture. Whatever run-off comes from the cropped soil is retained by the strip of
cover crop
and this reduces soil erosion.
(vi) Alley cropping: It is a form of inter-cropping in which crops are planted between rows of
trees or
shrubs. This is also called Agro forestry. Even when the crop is harvested, the soil is not fallow
because
trees and shrubs still remain on the soil holding the soil particles and prevent soil erosion.

Landslides
Various anthropogenic activities like hydroelectric projects, large dams, reservoirs, construction
of roads and
railway lines, construction of buildings, mining etc are responsible for clearing of large forested
areas.
During construction of roads, mining activities etc. huge portions of fragile mountainous areas
are cut or
destroyed by dynamite and thrown into adjacent valleys and streams. These land masses weaken
the already
fragile mountain slopes and lead to landslides. They also increase the turbidity of various nearby
streams,
thereby reducing their productivity.
Desertification
Desertification is a process whereby the productive potential of arid or semiarid lands falls by ten
percent or
more. Moderate desertification is 10-25% drop in productivity, severe desertification causes 25-
50% drop
while very severe desertification results in more than 50% drop in productivity and usually
creates huge
gullies and sand dunes. Desertification leads to the conversion of rangelands or irrigated
croplands to desert
like conditions in which agricultural productivity falls. Desertification is characterized by
devegetation and
loss of vegetal over, depletion of groundwater, salinization and severe soil erosion.
Causes of Desertification: Formation of deserts may take place due to natural phenomena like
climate
change or may be due to abusive use of land. Even the climate change is linked in many ways to
human
activities. The major anthropogenic activities responsible for desertification are as follows:
(a) Deforestation: The process of denuding and degrading a forested land initiates a desert
producing cycle
that feeds on itself. Since there is no vegetation to hold back the surface run-off, water drains off
quickly
before it can soak into the soil to nourish the plants or to replenish the groundwater.
b) Overgrazing: The region most seriously affected by desertification are the cattle producing
areas of the
world. This is because the increasing cattle populations heavily grazes in grasslands or forests
and as a result
denude the land area. The dry barren land becomes loose and more prone to soil erosion. The top
fertile layer
is also lost and thus plant growth is badly hampered in such soils.
(c) Mining and quarrying: These activities are also responsible for loss of vegetal cover and
denudation of
extensive land areas leading to desertification. Deserts are found to occur in the arid and semi-
arid areas of
all the continents.

Role of an Individual in Conservation of Natural Resources:

Different natural resources like forests, water, soil, food, mineral and energy resources play a
vital role in the
development of a nation. However, overuse of these resources in our modern society is resulting
in fast.
depletion of these resources and several related problems. While conservation efforts are
underway at
National as well as international level, the individual efforts for conservation of natural resources
can go a long way.
Let us see how individuals can help in conservation of different resources.

Conserve Water
 Don’t keep water taps running while brushing, shaving, washing or bathing.
 In washing machines fill the machine only to the level required for your clothes.
 Install water-saving toilets that use not more than 6 liters per flush.
 Check for water leaks in pipes and toilets and repair them promptly. A small pin-hole sized leak will
lead to the
wastage of 640 liters of water in a month.
 Reuse the soapy water of washings from clothes for washing off the courtyards, driveways etc.
 Water the plants in your kitchen-garden and the lawns in the evening when evaporation losses are
minimum. Never
water the plants in mid-day.
 Use drip irrigation and sprinkling irrigation to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce evaporation.
 Install a small system to capture rain water and collect normally wasted used water from sinks, cloth-
washers,
bathtubs etc. which can be used for watering the plants.
Conserve energy
 Turn off lights, fans and other appliances when not in use.
 Obtain as much heat as possible from natural sources. Dry the clothes in sun instead of drier if
it is a
sunny day.
 Use solar cooker for cooking your food on sunny days which will be more nutritious and will
cut down on
your LPG expenses.
 Build your house with provision for sunspace which will keep your house warmer and will
provide more
light.
 Instead of using the heat convector more often wear adequate woolens.
 Recycle and reuse glass, metals and paper.
 Try riding bicycle or just walk down small distances instead of using your car or scooter.
 Lower the cooling load on an air conditioner by increasing the thermostat setting as 3-5 %
electricity is
saved for every one degree rise in temperature setting.