Question

Differentiate between:

(i) Light soil and heavy soil

(ii) Gentle slope and steep slope

(iii) Soil erosion and soil degradation

Answer 1

(i) Light soil and heavy soil

Basis	Light Soil	Heavy Soil
Meaning	Light soils contain a very high proportion of sand, which contains few plant nutrients. They easily dry out, when the surface layer is easily blown away.	Heavy soils are those with a large component of clay in them, because the clay particles bind together to form a heavy, sticky lump which is difficult to dig.
Water Content	Because it is composed of so many fine particles which stick together easily, it is liable to compaction. It holds a lot of water and easily becomes waterlogged, so it is cold and wet in spring, and takes a long time to warm up.	Light soils drain quickly and do not hold water. They are often acidic. Since these soils do not hold water, they are warm and dusty.
Improvement	Heavy clay soils can be improved by adding humus or other organic matter and sharp sand for better drainage.	Light soils can be improved by adding plenty of organic matter in the form of garden compost or farmyard manure to give body and encourage moisture retention.

(ii) Gentle slope and steep slope

Basis	Gentle Slope	Steep Slope
Meaning	Slope of 5% of the land is called gentle slope.	Slope of 10% of the land is called steep slope.
Waterlogging	Steep slopes in the headwaters of drainage basins tend to generate more runoff than do lowland areas. Mountain areas tend to receive more precipitation overall because they force air to be lifted and cooled.	On gentle slopes, water may temporarily pond and later soak in.
Speed of water movement	On gentle slopes water tends to move slowly. Soils tend to be thicker, more infilteration can occur.	On steep mountainsides, water tends to move downward more rapidly. Soils tend to be thinner on steep slopes, limiting storage of water, and where bedrock is exposed, little infiltration can occur.

(iii) Soil erosion and soil degradation

Basis	Soil Erosion	Soil Degradation
Meaning	Destruction of soil cover is called soil erosion.	Soil degradation is decline in soil fertility when the nutritional status declines and depth of the soil goes down.
Causes	It happens’ due to action of running water, wind, deforestation etc.	It happens as a result of soil erosion and misuse of land.
Remedies	Forestation, check open cultivable lands on slopes from farming, preventing over grazing, etc.	Lesser use of chemical fertilizers, land use planning, terrace farming, etc.