krit.club logo

Ecosystems, Forests, and Livelihoods - Agricultural Practices and Shifting Cultivation

Grade 5CBSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

•

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (biotic) interacting with their non-living (abiotic) environment like soil, water, and air.

•

Forests act as the 'Lungs of the Earth' by maintaining the balance of gases. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb CO2CO_2 and release O2O_2.

•

Shifting Cultivation (also known as Jhum cultivation) is a traditional agricultural practice where a patch of forest land is cleared by cutting and burning trees. The ash produced is rich in potash, which increases soil fertility.

•

Tribal communities or Adivasis depend heavily on forests for their livelihood, collecting 'Minor Forest Produce' such as honey, lac, herbs, and bamboo.

•

Deforestation leads to several environmental issues, including the loss of biodiversity and increased levels of CO2CO_2 in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

•

Sustainable agricultural practices include crop rotation and the use of organic manure to maintain soil health without chemical fertilizers.

📐Formulae

6CO2+6H2O+Light Energy→C6H12O6+6O26CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{Light Energy} \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2

Photosynthesis: Carbon Dioxide+Water→SunlightGlucose+Oxygen\text{Photosynthesis: Carbon Dioxide} + \text{Water} \xrightarrow{\text{Sunlight}} \text{Glucose} + \text{Oxygen}

C6H12O6+6O2→6CO2+6H2O+Energy (ATP)C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{Energy (ATP)}

💡Examples

Problem 1:

Why is the ash from burnt trees important in Shifting Cultivation (Jhum)?

Solution:

The ash contains minerals like potassium which act as a natural fertilizer.

Explanation:

In shifting cultivation, trees are slashed and burnt. The resulting ash provides essential nutrients to the soil, allowing crops to grow without the need for synthetic chemical fertilizers.

Problem 2:

Explain the role of forests in the Water Cycle using scientific notation.

Solution:

Trees release water vapor (H2OH_2O) into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration.

Explanation:

The moisture released by forest canopies contributes to cloud formation and rainfall, ensuring that the local ecosystem remains hydrated and temperatures stay regulated.

Problem 3:

What happens to the level of CO2CO_2 in an ecosystem if a large area of forest is cleared?

Solution:

The level of CO2CO_2 increases significantly.

Explanation:

Since there are fewer trees to perform photosynthesis and absorb CO2CO_2, the gas accumulates in the atmosphere. Furthermore, burning the wood during clearing releases stored carbon back into the air as CO2CO_2.