RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 16 Biotic and Non-biotic Resources

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 16 Biotic and Non-biotic Resources

Introduction :

On the basis of origin, resources are classified into biotic and non – biotic resources.
Both Plant and animal kingdom are included in biotic resources. In biotic resources, all terrestrial and aquatic animals, forests,
and human resources are included.
Land, water, mineral etc. resources are included in non-biotic resources.

Animal Resources :

In agriculture and other allied activities, animals have a special place. Besides being helpful in agriculture, milk and milk products are obtained from animals. Manure is made of waste matters from animals such as dung, urine and bones.
The animals play leading role in providing leather, compost and wool, in transportation and in obtaining different types of decorative things from animal horns.
The animals mainly domesticated in India are cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep while camel, pig, hens, horse, pony, donkey and yak, etc. are other domestic animals.

Area of Ranching in India :

In India there are four ranching areas- Himalayan mountain region, Northern-western climatic area, eastern and western coastal areas and area of medium rainfall.
In India cow, bull, buffalo, goat, sheep, camel etc. are major domesticated animals. Besides these, horse, pony, mule, donkey, pig, etc. are also reared.
India is at the second place in cow rearing, first in buffalo rearing and second in sheep rearing. The camel is also called the Ship of the Desert.
In India, there is shortage of green and nutritious fodder, lack of good breed animals, animal diseases, ignorance of animal rearing and carelessness due to which animals are weak.
Attempts to develop animal resources have been made in India by providing natural food, developing better pastures, establishment of veterinary hospitals and by opening artificial insemination centers.

Forest Resources :

Forest is an important natural resource. According to forest policy, there should be forest on 33% part of total land area of the country, but according to 2015, there were forests on only 21.34% part of our country. It is a matter of anxiety.

Increasing demand of agricultural land, rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, cutting of forest for household needs, uncontrolled grazing, shifting agriculture and development of multi-purpose irrigation projects in India are the causes of forest destruction.

Types of Forest :

In India, on the basis of climate, land and soil diversity, evergreen, deciduous, tropical, desert, temperate evergreen forests and tidal or marshy forests are found.

The area of 200 cm or more rainfall provides evergreen forests, monsoon forest in 100-200 cm rain, dry deciduous forest in the area having 50-100 cm rainfall, desert, deltaic and tidal forests are found where the rain is less than 50 cm.

In the major products of forest in India are included different sorts of wood and in less important products lac, catechu, gum, grass, leather – colouring material, fruits, honey, wax, herbs, mahua, bamboo and tung are included. Several direct and indirect gains/benefits are obtained from the forests.

There are several harmful results of deforestation in which adverse effects are seen on environment, climatic condition, underground water level, and soil fertility, etc.

Fish Resources :

This is a new and extensive resource which is developed in rivers, canals, lakes, tanks, etc.
From this business, food, employement to people, and foreign currency is obtained.
For this business, shallow sea, delta of the rivers, and the point where the warm and cold ocean currents meet, provide ideal conditions for fisheries,
In India, there are three major areas for this business. Sea coast fishing areas, delta of river(s), fishing areas, fresh water fishing areas.
Indian government has established several regions for fisheries development in India.

Water Resources :

Water is a cyclic resource. It is used as drinking water. It is used for domestic use. It is used in construction and irrigation work. It is used in industries and transportation.
In India, major source of groundwater is the rainwater. In India, average rainfall is 108 cm per year. Maximum use of groundwater (89%) is in agricultural work, 9% in domestic work and only 2% in industrial work.
In India each year from 4000 cubic m rain water only 790 cubic m water is obtained in the form of underground water. The use of this underground water is done 92% in agricultural work, 3% in household work and 5% in industrial work.
Among the major irrigation sources in India are canals, tubewells and tanks etc.
In India, the important measures for water conservation and management are- reducing water pollution, water recycling, water management and harvesting of rainwater.

Mineral Resources :

All those natural resources which are dug out from the earth are called mineral resources.
In India, the minerals are found chiefly in 6 belts- Jharkhand-Odisha-West Bengal belt, M.P- Chhattisgarh- Andhra Pradesh-Maharashtra belt, Karnataka- Tamil Nadu belt, Rajasthan-Gujarat belt, Kerala belt and Himalayan belt,
In India, metalic and non-metallic both types of minerals are found.

Glossary :

Resources : All those biotic or abiotic factors that are used to fulfil human needs, are called resources.
Non-biotic Resources : Those resources which lack life, in other words, those which Eire made of lifeless things, are called abiotic resources, such as- iron, copper, silver, coal and rocks, etc.
Biotic’ Resources : The resources which have a certain life cycle in biotic atmosphere, are called biotic resources such as- man, animals, birds, vegetation, wild animals and fish, etc.
Mineral Resources : Abiotic materials with certain chemical composition which are dug out of the earth for human needs, are called mineral resources.
Animal Resources : The animals useful for man are called animal resources.
Agriculture : The activity in which crops are produced from the soil.
Export: Type of a business in which the things from the country are sent to other countries.
Population : Number of people living in a region.
Occupation : A continuous activity adopted by man to maintain a certain social level and to earn livelihood.
Climate : It expresses the average of long-time weather conditions of a wide area and the variations in those conditions.
Desert : The arid area where vegetation cannot develop due to lack of moisture, though here and there arid grass and bushes are found.
Irrigation : To grow the crops in dry season and to increase the production with supply of water through artificial methods.
Import : To bring commodities and services in a country from other countries.
Transport : Activity of carrying people or goods from one place to another by any means is called transport.
Urbanization : Urbanisation refers to the population shift from rural to urban residency, the gradual increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas, and the ways in which each society adapts to this change.
Shifting agriculture : The agriculture done by clearing forests to prepare the land for agriculture. It is done by shifting the agricultural area every 3 – 4 years.
Forest : A plant community in which trees and vegetation present are found in the form of clusters.
Evergreen forest : The forest in which the trees remain green for the entire year.
Autumn forest : The trees of this forest shed their leaves once in a year.
Tropical forest : In such zone, equatorial rainforests and monsoon forests are found.
Desert forest : This forest grows in the areas where the rainfall is less than 50 cm. These forests are generally thorny.
Tidal forest : Forest present in aquatic and deltaic areas before a river flows into the sea.
Erosion : Cutting of rocks and ground by different natural agents like water, wind.
Flood : Generally on dry land, water accumulation caused by excess water which causes the part of land to be submerged.
Storm : Dangerous atmospheric phenomenon in which high speed winds blow.
Pollution : Physical, chemical and biological change in air, water and soil that causes harm to human beings and other animals.
Lake : Terrestrial, large water-body surrounded by land. A wide difference is found among the lakes on the bases of size, width, depth, location, origin and the nature of water.
Temperature : Measure of hotness of something generally of atmosphere.
Fishing harbour : A place where fish(s) are caught, and sorting, storage, export facilities are done qnd weather information and shelter for boats and ships are provided here.
Environment : A combination of physical, chemical and biotic conditions which influence living beings.
Monsoon : The moisture-laden winds blowing in the lower atmosphere, and whose direction changes according to weather.
Surface water : The water which is obtained from the rivers, lakes, tanks, dams through rainfall.
Underground water : The water found in cracks of the rocks under the ground.
Evaporation : A process in which liquid (water mass) changes into vapour.
Drainage area : The entire area in which surface water drains towards one direction.
Lagoon : When two top parts emerged from sea coast or the forward parts of a gulf are joined in such a way that the movement of water stops, such type of water body is called lagoon or back water body.
River basin : When the river along with its tributaries moves forward with water of that area, its drainage area is called river basin.
Igneous rocks : One of the three wide groups of rocks which is formed after cooling of hot magma.
Season : The period of the year in which the solar orbit of the earth, and the axial inclination of the earth results in specific climatic conditions.
Drought : Time period of uncommon weather in which there is lack of rain in which vegetations get dried up.
Water pollution : Physical, chemical, and biological change in the quality of water by human causes, consequently water becomes unfit for drinking, industries, agriculture and other uses.