Syllabus (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE)

Course Type: MAJ-3

Semester: 3

Course Code: BENVMAJ03T

Course Title: NATURAL RESOURCES

(L-P-Tu): 5-0-1

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Theory

Course Objective: To develop Basic concept on natural resources To create understanding of the importance of energy resources, water resources, soil resources, forest resources and mineral resources

Learning Outcome: Students can gain concept of Natural resources, Energy resources, Water resource, Soil resource, Forest resource, Mineral resources

Natural Resources: (LECTURE – 15)

Concept and classification of natural resources; Depletion and degradation of natural resources

Energy Resources: (LECTURE – 20)

Definition and introduction; Classification of energy resources: Conventional (Fossil fuels: Coal, Natural gas) and Non-conventional (Nuclear energy, Solar energy, Hydro-electric power, Wind energy, Tidal energy, Geothermal energy, Biomass, Biogas and Bio-diesel); Renewable and Non-renewable; Alternate emerging energy resources. Green energy, carbon footprint and ecological footprint

Water Resource: (LECTURE – 20)

Surface and Ground water resources (importance and uses); Recharge of groundwater table; Hydrological cycles, geological formation as aquifers, type and characteristics of aquifers; Groundwater plume; Darcy’s law; Depletion of groundwater; Artificial recharging of ground water

Soil Resource: (LECTURE – 20)

Concept, weathering and soil formation; Basic concept of physical, chemical and mineralogical composition of soil; Soil humus; Soil profile; Types of soil in India; Soil erosion (causes and types); Soil conservation

Forest Resource: (LECTURE – 10)

Concept and major forest types and their distribution (World and India); Causes and consequences of deforestation; Timber and non-timber forest products; Agro- forestry; shifting cultivation; Management and conservation of forests: Sustainable forest management, Forest Protection Committee, afforestation

Mineral Resources: (LECTURE – 5)

Classification& Indian occurrences; Basic concept of mineralization

Suggested Books

1. 1. Environmental Science: S.C. Santra, New Central Book Agency
   2. Ecology and Environment: P.D. Sharma., Rastogi Publication
   3. Agrawal, Sikdar and Deb (2002): A Text book of Environment; MacMillan
   4. Textbook of Environmental Studies: Erach Bharucha; University Grants Commission; University Press2013
   5. Fundamentals of Environmental Studies: Mahua Basu & S. Xavier; Cambridge University Press, 2016
   6. Water Technology: An Introduction for Environmental Scientist and Engineers: N F Gray,, Viva Books Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2000
   7. Principles of soil science, M M Rai; Macmillan Publishers India Ltd
   8. The Nature and properties of soil, Brady, Weil; Pearson Education India
   9. Energy Resources-Occurrence, production, conversion, use-W.H Wiser, Springer
   10. Renewable energy sources and Emerging technologies-Kothari, Singal, Ranjan, PHI Learning Publisher
   11. Mineral Resources and Policy in India, K N Jetli; Ingram Short Title Publisher
   12. Forest Resources of India-Problems, Policies and Initiatives-A Y Pangannavar; New Century Publications
   13. Introductory soil science by Dilip Kumar Das, Kalyani