Geography Chapters

1. Continents and Oceans2. Biosphere3. Lithosphere4. Hydrosphere5. Atmosphere6. Latitudes and Longitudes7. Different Heat Zones of the Earth8. Longitudes and Time Zones9. International Date Line10. Motion of the Earth11. Effect of the Tilted Axis on Day and Night12. The Atmosphere (Composition and Layers)13. Weather and Climate14. Atmospheric Pressure15. Internal Structure of the Earth16. Rocks17. Earthquakes and Volcanoes18. Various Landforms (Mountains, Plateaus, Plains, Grasslands)19. Landforms Created by River System20. Landforms Created by Glacier21. Landforms Created by Wind22. Landforms Created by Groundwater23. The Indian Subcontinent Position, Extent, and Physical Features24. Climatic Diversity in the Indian Subcontinent25. Soil Resources of the Indian Subcontinent26. Agriculture in India27. Land Use Pattern of India28. Water Resources and Their Utilization in India29. Multipurpose River Valley Projects30. Transport in India31. Rivers of India

Land Use Pattern of India

The land use pattern reflects how the total geographical area of India is utilized for various purposes such as agriculture, forestry, industry, and settlements.

Classification of Land Use

  • Forest Area: Land covered by dense forests, important for ecology and timber.
  • Net Sown Area: Land actually sown with crops during a particular agricultural year.
  • Non-agricultural Uses: Land used for urban settlements, industries, roads, and infrastructure.
  • Barren and Unculturable Land: Areas where vegetation cannot be grown, such as deserts and rocky terrain.
  • Permanent Pastures and Grazing Land: Used for livestock grazing.
  • Land under Miscellaneous Trees and Groves: Orchards, coffee plantations, and rubber plantations.
  • Fallow Land: Land left uncultivated temporarily to regain fertility.

Major Features of Land Use in India

  • Only about 46% of the total geographical area is used for cultivation.
  • Forest cover is around 23% but unevenly distributed.
  • Fallow lands are significant, showing underutilization of land resources.
  • Non-agricultural land has increased due to urbanization and industrial growth.
  • Land under permanent pastures is decreasing because of urban expansion.
  • Land use varies widely among states based on climate, soil, and population pressure.

Land Use by States (Examples)

  • Punjab and Haryana: High percentage of net sown area due to fertile alluvial soil and irrigation facilities.
  • Madhya Pradesh and Odisha: Large forest cover.
  • Rajasthan: Large barren and unculturable land due to desert areas.
  • Kerala and West Bengal: Significant land under miscellaneous trees and groves.
  • Uttar Pradesh: Large net sown area but also high population pressure.

Fallow Land and Its Types

  • Current Fallow: Left uncultivated for one agricultural year.
  • Other Fallow: Left uncultivated for 1 to 5 years.
  • Net Fallow Land: Total land left fallow (current + other fallow).
  • Fallow lands can be brought back to cultivation with improved practices.

Recent Trends in Land Use

  • Increasing urbanization leads to reduction in net sown area.
  • Efforts to increase forest cover through afforestation.
  • Decline in fallow lands due to better irrigation and agricultural practices.
  • Land use planning has become important for sustainable development.

Previous Year Questions

  • SSC CGL 2020: What is net sown area?
  • Land actually sown with crops during a particular agricultural year.
  • RRB JE 2017: Name two major types of fallow land.
  • Current fallow and other fallow.
  • HSSC CET 2018: Which state has the highest net sown area?
  • Punjab.
  • SSC MTS 2019: What are barren and unculturable lands?
  • Land where cultivation is not possible due to harsh terrain or climate.
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