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BIOGEOGRAPHY

SYLLABUS
Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution

of soils; Soil profile; Soil erosion, Degradation


and conservation
Factors influencing world distribution of plants
and animals
Problems of deforestation and conservation
measures
Social forestry; agro-forestry; Wild life
Major gene pool centres.

SOIL
Soil is a dynamic natural body on the

surface of the earth in which plants


grow, composed of mineral and organic
materials and living forms

Genesis of soils
Weathering
Translocation
Podzolisation
Gleying
Desilication
Humidification
Horizonisation

Weathering
Physical weathering
Chemical weathering
Biological weathering

Physical weathering
Change in temperature
Action of water
Action of wind

Chemical weathering
Hydrolysis
Carbonation
Hydration
Oxidation
Reduction

Biological weathering
Man and animals
Higher plants and their roots
Micro organism

Translocation
Leaching
Eluviation
Illuviation
Calcification
Salinisation
Alkalisation

Podzolisation or
cheluviation

Gleying

Desilication

Humidification

Factors influencing soil formation


S = f(CL,O,R,P,T)
Active soil forming factors
Climate
Organism
Passive soil forming factors
Parent material
Topography
Time

Soil profile
The vertical section of the soil showing the

various layers from the surface to the


unaffected parent material is known as a
soil profile.

Soil profile

Theregolithincludes all of the weathered

material within the profile. The regolith has two


components: thesolumand thesaprolite.
The solum includes the upper horizons with the

most weathered portion of the profile. The


saprolite is the least weathered portion that lies
directly above the solid, consolidated bedrock but
beneath the regolith.

Soil erosion, Degradation and


conservation
Soil erosion

soil erosion is the process of


detachment and transportation
of soil particle by natural
agents like water and wind

Factors responsible for soil erosion


Climate
Topographic factors
Lithological factors
Natural factors
Soil Factors
Anthropogenic factors

Causes of soil erosion


Deforestation
Overgrazing
Faulty agricultural practices

Types of soil erosion


Natural erosion
Accelerated erosion
Geological erosion

Water erosion
Splash erosion
Sheet erosion
Rill erosion
Gully erosion

Soil degradation
Soil degradationis the decline

insoilquality caused by its improper use,


usually for agricultural, pastural, industrial
or urban purposes.
Soil degradationis a serious global
environmental problem and may be
exacerbated by climate change. It
encompasses physical, chemical and
biological deterioration

Cause
Deforestation
Over grazing
Use of agrochemicals

IMPACTS
Loss of arable land
Pollution
Flooding
Loss of organic matter
Decline in soil fertility
Decline in structural condition
Erosion
Adverse changes in salinity, acidity or

alkalinity
Effects of toxic chemicals.

CONSERVATION MEASURE
Mechanical
Biological
Agronomical

Mechanical measures
Contour bunding
Bench terracing
Contour stone wall
Basin listing
Pan breaking

Biological measure
Afforestration
Reforestration
Vermicompost

Agronomical measure
Proper land use
Contour farming
Strip cropping
Crop rotation
Mixed cropping
Cover crops
Tillage
Mulching
Organic manure
Wind brrakers

Classification and Distribution of Soils


Methods of classification
Emprical
Genetic
Types of classification
Masbut and Dukuchaiev Classification
USDA classification

Masbut and Dukuchaiev


Classification
Zonal soils
Intra zonal soils
Azonal soils

Zonal soils
Podzols
Tundra soils
Brown soils
Cherozem /prraire soils
Sierozems soils
Grumusols
Ferralsols/latosols

Intrazonal soils
Hydromorphic
Calcimorphic
Halomorphic

Azonal soils
Regosols
Lithosols

Criticisms of Masbut soil


classification

USDA CLASSIFICATION
Entisols
Vertisols
Inceptisols
Aridisols
Mollisols
Spodosols
Alfisols
Ultisols
Oxisols
Histosols

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