What are thHow can farming lead to desertification? What might be done to prevent it?

Question

What are thHow can farming lead to desertification? What might be done to prevent it?

Answer 1

Planting the same crops year after year can literally suck the life out of the soil and lead to very few things being able to grow in it. Also wind exposure can blow away the topsoil (google the Dust Bowl in the usa in the 30s for more info).

As to how to prevent such things; crop rotation, so that the soil can be allowed to recover, and not get the same nutrients sucked out year after year. Also wind breaks are a good idea, like hedgerows for instance on field borders.