Wastelands: Characteristics
Wastelands are areas of land that are not being used to their full capacity or, in many cases, are not used at all. These lands often have problems like poor soil quality, little or no vegetation, erosion, or other natural and human-made conditions that make them difficult to farm or use productively. In earlier times, the term "wasteland" often referred to parts of a village’s land that were not cultivated for crops. According to the American Society of Soil Science, wastelands are areas that cannot produce materials or services of useful value. Many scientists and land experts believe that wastelands are lands that yield less than 20% of their economic potential. Examples include overgrazed fields, degraded forests, steep rocky slopes, eroded valleys, saline or alkaline soils, and marshy regions.
In 1961, India’s Wasteland Survey and Reclamation Committee described wastelands as lands that are unavailable for cultivation, uncultivated areas (excluding fallow fields), barren lands, cultural wastelands, land under miscellaneous trees, and permanent pastures. Later, researchers Bhumla and Khare (1987) gave a more detailed definition: wastelands are ecologically unstable, have lost most or all of their topsoil, or have developed toxic conditions in the soil that prevent healthy plant growth.
Types of Wastelands
The National Wastelands Development Board (NWDB) sorts wastelands into two broad categories:
- Culturable Wastelands – These can potentially grow vegetation if the right improvements are made.
- Unculturable Wastelands – These are so difficult to improve that they cannot support plant growth under normal conditions.
Culturable Wastelands include:
- Gullied and Ravinous Lands: Deep channels in the land formed by water erosion, which can reduce soil fertility.
- Waterlogged and Marshy Lands: Areas that remain wet for long periods due to a high water table or poor drainage.
- Salt-Affected Soils: Soils that have too much salt or alkalinity, making it hard for plants to grow.
- Shifting Cultivation Areas: Places where forests are cut and burned for temporary farming, leading to soil loss and degradation.
- Strip Lands: Long, narrow areas along roads, canals, or railways, sometimes planted with trees.
- Degraded Forests: Forested areas with very low tree cover due to overuse or poor management.
- Degraded Pastures: Grasslands damaged by overgrazing and erosion.
Unculturable Wastelands include:
- Rocky/Stony Areas: Surfaces covered with rocks and boulders, unsuitable for plants.
- Steep Slopes: Land with sharp inclines prone to erosion and landslides.
- Snow-Covered/Glacial Areas: Permanently frozen lands above the snowline.
Where Wastelands Are Found in India
- Gullied/Ravinous Land: Mostly in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Lands With/Without Scrub: Common in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
- Salt-Affected Soils: Majorly in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Shifting Cultivation Areas: Mostly in Northeastern states.
- Desertic Sands: Found in Rajasthan and parts of Assam.
- Snow-Covered Areas: Located in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Causes of Wasteland Formation
- Deforestation: Removing trees exposes soil to erosion.
- Overfarming: Growing crops too frequently exhausts the soil’s nutrients.
- Overgrazing: Too many animals grazing in one area damages vegetation and soil.
- Poor Irrigation Practices: Can cause waterlogging or salinity.
- Dumping of Industrial and Mining Waste: Pollutes and degrades the land.
Conclusion
While wastelands present serious challenges, they also offer opportunities. With proper land management—such as planting trees, restoring vegetation, controlling erosion, and using water resources wisely—many of India’s wastelands can be reclaimed and turned into productive land, benefiting both the environment and local communities.
Distribution of Wastelands and Problem Soils in India
Introduction
Wastelands and problem soils are areas that are either degraded, unproductive, or unsuitable for agriculture due to poor physical, chemical, or biological conditions. These lands significantly affect agricultural productivity, ecological balance, and sustainable development. India, with its diverse agro-climatic zones, has various types of wastelands and problem soils, the distribution of which varies from state to state.
Types of Wastelands
- Gullied and/or ravinous land
- Scrub land
- Waterlogged/Marshy land
- Saline/Alkaline soil
- Shifting cultivation area
- Degraded notified forest land
- Degraded pasture/grazing land
- Mining/Industrial wastelands
- Sand – Inland/Coastal
Categories of Problem Soils Based on Properties
| Type of Problem Soil | Properties | Impact on Soil Productivity |
|---|---|---|
| Saline Soils | High concentration of soluble salts (EC > 4 dS/m) | Reduces crop germination and growth |
| Alkaline (Sodic) Soils | High exchangeable sodium (ESP > 15%), poor infiltration | Dispersion of soil particles, poor aeration |
| Acid Soils | pH below 5.5, high Al and Fe toxicity | Limits nutrient availability, especially phosphorus |
| Waterlogged Soils | Poor drainage, saturation of water for long periods | Limits root respiration, leads to plant stress |
| Shallow and Rocky Soils | Low soil depth, poor water-holding capacity | Unfit for cultivation, restricts root growth |
State-wise Distribution of Wastelands (Area in million hectares)
| State/UT | Wasteland Area (Mha) | % of Total Geographical Area |
|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan | 21.68 | 63.3% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 12.95 | 17.4% |
| Maharashtra | 8.90 | 13.1% |
| Andhra Pradesh | 6.72 | 15.2% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 5.18 | 8.8% |
| Chhattisgarh | 4.23 | 11.6% |
| Odisha | 4.12 | 9.7% |
| Jharkhand | 3.81 | 12.5% |
| Karnataka | 3.55 | 6.9% |
| Gujarat | 3.31 | 9.2% |
| Tamil Nadu | 2.96 | 5.7% |
| Bihar | 2.15 | 5.4% |
| Others (combined) | 11.34 | - |
| Total | 91.9 | - |
Conclusion
Wastelands and problem soils constitute a major challenge to India's agricultural and ecological sustainability. Proper identification, classification, and rehabilitation of these lands are essential to bring them under productive use. Measures such as soil amendments, afforestation, drainage, and land reclamation can help restore productivity and contribute to food security and environmental conservation.
Sources
- Wastelands Atlas of India, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India (2021)
- ICAR – Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal
- National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP)
- Planning Commission and Soil Health Card Scheme Reports
