2. Wastelands are lands which are unproductive, unfit
for cultivation, grazing & other economic uses due
to rough terrain & eroded soil.
Water logged & saline lands are also wastelands.
The loss of fertility followed by erosion may lead
to conversion of marginal forest land into
wasteland.
In absence of land management policy,
geomorphic processes become active due to which
soil layers are eroded & transported making the
lands infertile, stony & useless.
3. Barren & uncultivable lands
Cannot be brought under cultivation except at very
high spost.
Ex: sandy deserts, stony lands, land on hilly slopes
etc.
Cultivable wastelands
These lands are not under cultivation for 5
years/more.
It consists of land available for cultivation but is
not used for it.
They can be reclaimed through conservation
methods for cultivation, grazing/agroforestry.
4. Over cultivation
Deforestation
use as fuel wood
Shifting cultivation
Commercial timber exploitation
Clearing forest permanently for non forestry
activities
Overgrazing
Improper irrigation practices
Mining activities
5. Provides a source of income for rural poor.
Ensures constant supply of fuel, fodder & timber
for local use.
Makes soil fertile by preventing soil erosion.
Helps maintain an ecological balance.
Increasing forest cover helps in maintaining local
climatic condition.
6. The process of turning barren, sterile wasteland
into something that is fertile & suitable for
habitation & cultivation.
There are various methods by which wastelands
can be reclaimed.
Afforestation
Growing forest over culturable wasteland.
Reforestation
Growing the forest again over the land where
they were existing & was destroyed due to fires,
overgrazing & excessive cutting.
7. Reforestation checks water logging, floods, soil
erosion & increases productivity of land.
Providing surface cover
The easiest way to protect the land surface from
soil erosion is to leave crop residue on the land
after harvesting.
Mulching
Mulch is a layer of material applied to the
surface of an area of soil.
Protective cover of organic matter & plants like
stalks, cotton stalks, tobacco stalk etc are used
which reduce evaporation, help in retaining soil
moisture & reduce soil erosion.
8. Running water erodes the hill soil & carries the
soil along with it & this can be minimized by
Strip farming : different kinds of crops are
planted in alternate strip along the contour.
Terracing : leveled terraces are made to hold
soil & water. The terrace edges are planted with
such plant species which anchor the soil.
Contour ploughing : ploughing of land is done
across the hill & not in up & down style.
Leaching
In salt affected land, the salinity can be
minimized by leaching them with more water.
9. Changing agricultural practices
Mixed cropping, mixed rotation etc.
Ecological succession
Natural development of an ecosystem which help
in reclaiming the mineral deficient soil of
wasteland.