fallow land
fallow land,
cropland that is not seeded for a season; it may or may not be plowed. The land may be cultivated or chemically treated for control of weeds and other pests or may be left unaltered. Allowing land to lie fallow serves to accumulate moisture in dry regions (see dry farmingdry farming,farming system adopted in areas having an annual rainfall of approximately 15 to 20 in. (38.1–50.8 cm)—with much of the rainfall in the spring and early summer—where irrigation is impractical.
..... Click the link for more information. ) or to check weeds and plant diseases. As a method of restoring productivity, rotation of cropsrotation of crops,
agricultural practice of varying the crops on a piece of land in a planned series, to save or increase the mineral or organic content of the soil, to increase crop yields, and to eradicate weeds, insects, and plant diseases.
..... Click the link for more information. is now preferred to fallowing, which is considered wasteful of humus and nitrogen.