Final answer:
After farmers use land, soil quality may decline without proper care, resulting in infertility and erosion, but sustainable practices can restore soil health. Practices such as crop rotation and allowing land to fallow rejuvenate nutrient cycles and reduce degradation. Ecosystem services in healthy soil are crucial for sustainable crop success. The correct options are A and C.
Step-by-step explanation:
After farmers use land to grow crops, the condition of the land can vary depending on agricultural practices. Without proper management, the land may become infertile, experience soil erosion, or lose nutrients. However, some sustainable farming practices like crop rotation, allowing land to lie fallow, and employing organic fertilization can help in restoring soil fertility and nutrient cycles.
Techniques like contour plowing and terracing are used specifically to reduce soil erosion. When left to regenerate, or lie fallow, land can recover over time as natural vegetation contributes to the accumulation of nutrients. Nonetheless, if land is abused through practices like intense cultivation without rest, soil degradation can lead to long-term barren landscapes or even desertification.
Land management is critical for maintaining the ecological sustainability of farming. Ecosystem services provided by a healthy soil ecosystem are essential for crop success, as they maintain nutrient-rich and structurally sound soils. Farmers, therefore, must balance the needs of current crop production with long-term soil health to ensure continuous productivity.