Question

Which of the following statements are correct with respect to land degradation?
(A) All degraded lands are wasteland.
(B) All degraded lands may not be wasteland, but unchecked process of development may lead the conversion to wasteland.
(C) Land degradation is permanent or temporary decline in productive capacity of the land.
(D) Waterlogged, marshy areas and gullied lands are different types of degraded lands.

• A. (A), (C) and (D) only
• B. (A), (B) and (D) only
• C. (A), (B) and (C) only
• D. (B), (C) and (D) only

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

To correctly identify the statements regarding land degradation, let's analyze each option: 

• (A) All degraded lands are wasteland.
  This statement is incorrect. Not all degraded lands are classified as wastelands as they may still hold some productive capacity.
• (B) All degraded lands may not be wasteland, but unchecked process of development may lead the conversion to wasteland.
  This statement is correct. Degraded lands may not initially be wastelands, but ongoing degradation without proper management can lead to such a conversion.
• (C) Land degradation is permanent or temporary decline in productive capacity of the land.
  This statement is correct. Land degradation refers to a reduction in the land's ability to produce, either permanently or temporarily.
• (D) Waterlogged, marshy areas and gullied lands are different types of degraded lands.
  This statement is correct. These are examples of physical conditions representing degraded lands.

Based on the above analysis, the correct combination of statements is (B), (C), and (D) only.

Answer 2

Let’s evaluate each statement:

• (A) All degraded lands are wasteland: This is incorrect. Not all degraded lands are wasteland. Land degradation refers to the decline in the quality or productivity of land, which can result from various factors such as erosion, deforestation, or overgrazing. However, degraded land can still be usable and may be restored through proper management practices.
• (B) All degraded lands may not be wasteland, but unchecked process of development may lead to the conversion to wasteland: This is correct. Degraded lands may not initially be wasteland, but if the process of degradation continues unchecked (due to overuse, poor agricultural practices, urbanization, etc.), the land could eventually turn into wasteland.
• (C) Land degradation is permanent or temporary decline in productive capacity of the land: This is correct. Land degradation is the decline in the productive capacity of land, which can be either permanent or temporary depending on the severity of the degradation and the possibility of rehabilitation.
• (D) Waterlogged, marshy areas and gullied lands are different types of degraded lands: This is correct. Waterlogged areas, marshy areas, and gullied lands are indeed different types of degraded lands, each resulting from specific environmental and human-induced processes.

Thus, the correct answer is (D): (B), (C) and (D) only.