Question

What are the factors that determine land use? What type of relief covers most of India’s land? How is it used?

Answer 1

1. Land use pattern reflects the usage of land for purposes like forests, for cultivation which is shown in net sown areas, area that is uncultivated, it also includes fallow land, land not available for cultivation. Land use pattern basically explains the physical characteristics land the purpose for which it is being used.

Land use is determined by the following factors:

a Physical factors- Topography, relief features, climatic conditions, type of soil determines the land use pattern of a particular region.
b. Human factors- Factors like population density , level of development, technological capability also determines the land use pattern. For instance, land is used for non agricultural activities like construction of buildings, for human settlement.

2. a.Relief features in India are mainly characterised by plateaus, mountains, plains and islands.
b. As per the data available, 43% accounts for plains which is apt for agriculture, human settlement and industrialisation.
c. 30% is covered by mountains, which is rather source of many rivers, the also attract tourists and support ecosystem
d. 27% is plateau region, which is indeed a storehouse of rich minerals, fossil fuels, forests.