Identify six factors contributing to land degradation in India.
Land degradation in India is driven by several factors stemming from unstable use and inappropriate management practices. A primary cause is the loss of vegetation occurring due to deforestation, which destabilises the soil. This is compounded by unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction and shifting cultivation, which deplete natural resources. Encroachment into forest lands further reduces the area available for ecological balance.
Additionally, forest fires and over grazing destroy the protective vegetation cover, leading to soil erosion. The non-adoption of adequate soil conservation measures by farmers also accelerates the degradation process. Other significant factors include improper crop rotation and the indiscriminate use of agro-chemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides, which degrade soil quality over time.
Explanation
The answer is derived directly from the list of factors responsible for land degradation provided in the textbook context. The context lists twelve specific factors (i-xii), including deforestation, shifting cultivation, over-grazing, and improper agricultural practices. The student is asked to identify six, so the answer selects the most prominent ones listed in the source text to form a comprehensive response.