Over-Cultivation - GCSE Geography Definition

Over-cultivation refers to the excessive farming of land to grow crops without giving the soil enough time to recover its nutrients. This practice can lead to soil degradation, resulting in soil that becomes less fertile and less able to support plant growth. When farmers continuously plant and harvest crops on the same piece of land without rotation or allowing the land to rest, the soil can become exhausted, lose its nutrients, and become more vulnerable to erosion. This can result in poor crop yields and can eventually make the land unusable for farming. Over-cultivation is a significant concern in geography because it affects food production and can lead to environmental problems like desertification, where fertile land turns into desert.