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Predicted Questions with Model Answers
Q1 (5 marks — 50 words)
Name the major soil types of Rajasthan and their geographic distribution.
Model Answer (EN): Rajasthan has five major soil types: (1) Desert/Sandy soils (Aridisols) — western Thar, Jaisalmer-Barmer; (2) Red-yellow soils — southeastern Udaipur, Dungarpur; (3) Black soils (Vertisols/Regur) — Hadoti region, Kota-Bundi-Baran-Jhalawar; (4) Alluvial soils — eastern plains along Chambal-Banas, Ganganagar; (5) Saline/Alkaline soils — Sambhar Lake basin and IGNP command area. Alluvial soils support the most intensive agriculture.
Q2 (5 marks — 50 words)
What is secondary salinization? How has the Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana (IGNP) contributed to it in Rajasthan?
Model Answer (EN): Secondary salinization is salt accumulation in the root zone due to rising water tables caused by over-irrigation, not natural processes. IGNP's unlined canals have raised the water table from over 30m to under 2m in parts of Ganganagar and Hanumangarh, causing waterlogging on ~1.54 lakh hectares. Evaporation deposits salt crystals in topsoil. Remedies include sub-surface drainage, canal lining, drip irrigation, and switching to less water-intensive crops.
Q3 (5 marks — 50 words)
The Soil Health Card Scheme was launched from which state? Name the 12 parameters it tests.
Model Answer (EN): The Soil Health Card Scheme was launched from Suratgarh, Rajasthan, on February 19, 2015, by the Prime Minister. It tests 12 parameters: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and boron (B). Cards are issued every two years; 23 crore cards issued nationally. Rajasthan has ~120 soil testing laboratories.
Q4 (5 marks — 50 words)
Name the soil types of the Hadoti region and their agricultural importance.
Model Answer (EN): Hadoti region (Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar) is dominated by black soils (Vertisols/Regur) with high moisture retention, clay content, and fertility. Deep cracks form when dry. Alluvial soils occur in river valleys. Agricultural importance: supports soybean (Rajasthan is India's 3rd largest producer), cotton, chickpea, and wheat. Kota Barrage irrigation enhances productivity. Jhalawar is Rajasthan's largest orange-producing district, using red-yellow soils in transition.
Q5 (10 marks — 150 words)
Discuss the problem of soil degradation in Rajasthan. What are its causes, extent, and the government measures to address it?
Model Answer (EN): Soil degradation in Rajasthan is a multi-dimensional crisis encompassing desertification, salinization, waterlogging, and erosion — affecting millions of hectares and threatening the state's agricultural productivity.
Causes and Extent:
Wind Erosion and Desertification: Western Rajasthan's Thar Desert experiences active wind erosion — an estimated 5.9 lakh sq km of Rajasthan is classified as degraded land (National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning). Sand dunes migrate at 1–10 metres per year in unprotected areas, burying agricultural land and infrastructure.
Waterlogging and Secondary Salinization: IGNP's seepage has raised water tables to under 2m in parts of Ganganagar-Hanumangarh, causing waterlogging on ~1.54 lakh hectares. Salt accumulation (secondary salinization) further renders land unproductive. Similar problems affect the Chambal Canal command area in eastern Rajasthan.
Ravine Formation (Chambal Badlands): The Chambal River's deep ravines (ulleys) in Sawai Madhopur, Kota, and Dhaulpur cover ~2 lakh hectares. Extensive gully erosion removes topsoil and renders land uncultivable. Ravine reclamation projects under NABARD and state government have had limited success.
Red Soil Laterization: In Udaipur and Dungarpur, removal of forest cover has accelerated laterization of red soils, reducing fertility and water retention.
Government Measures:
(1) IGNP Canal Lining: ₹3,200 crore HDPE canal lining project (2024-26) in Jaisalmer-Barmer to reduce seepage and waterlogging.
(2) Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP): Soil and water conservation through check dams, contour bunding, vegetative barriers.
(3) Desert Development Programme (DDP): Sand dune stabilization through Khejri planting and shelter belts across arid districts.
(4) Soil Health Card Scheme: Nutrient management at farm level to prevent fertility depletion.
(5) PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana: Promoting micro-irrigation to reduce over-irrigation and salinization.
Q6 (10 marks — 150 words)
What are the different soil conservation methods practiced in Rajasthan? Explain with reference to the specific soil problems in different agroclimatic zones.
Model Answer (EN): Rajasthan's diverse agroclimatic zones — from hyper-arid Thar Desert to sub-humid eastern plains and humid southeastern hills — require distinct and zone-specific soil conservation strategies.
Zone I — Arid Western Rajasthan (Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur):
Primary threat: Wind erosion and sand dune mobility. Conservation methods: (a) Shelter-belt plantation (Khejri, Siris, Eucalyptus) perpendicular to prevailing wind direction to reduce wind speed; (b) Sand dune stabilization through Sewan grass and Phog plantation; (c) Desert Development Programme (DDP) funded by Ministry of Rural Development; (d) IGNP canal HDPE lining (₹3,200 crore, 2024-26) to reduce waterlogging and secondary salinization in the command area.
Zone II — Semi-Arid Central Rajasthan (Nagaur, Pali, Sikar, Ajmer):
Primary threats: Sheet erosion, nutrient depletion, low organic matter. Conservation methods: (a) Contour bunding and field bunding to slow water runoff; (b) Khadins (traditional earthen embankments in western Rajasthan) harvesting runoff for farming; (c) Soil Health Card Scheme for precision nutrient application; (d) Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) combining organic and inorganic fertilizers.
Zone III — Eastern Plains (Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa):
Primary threats: Over-irrigation-induced waterlogging, groundwater depletion. Conservation methods: (a) Micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler) under PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana; (b) Sub-surface drainage installation in waterlogged areas; (c) Crop rotation including legumes for nitrogen fixation.
Zone IV — Hadoti and Chambal Ravines (Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur):
Primary threat: Gully erosion and ravine formation. Conservation methods: (a) Ravine reclamation through check dams (loose-stone, earthen) and gully plugging; (b) Plantation of deep-rooted grasses (Napier, Vetiver) to bind soil; (c) NABARD-funded Watershed Development Fund projects; (d) Agro-forestry in degraded ravine edges.
Zone V — Tribal Southeast (Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara):
Primary threats: Laterization of red soils, forest degradation. Conservation methods: (a) Social forestry and joint forest management; (b) Terrace cultivation on slopes to prevent runoff; (c) CRESEP (JICA, ₹1,774 crore) restoring degraded land alongside Oran protection.