Virgin soil целинная почва, целина, новь

soil loss: Such studies may yield exaggerated estimates of total soil loss. | The central issue here is the assumptions about future agricultural technology which are made when assessing tolerable soil losses.

16. flood plain | water meadow [countable] | flood lands [plural] an area of flat land beside a river that is frequently flooded when the river becomes too full пойма; заливной луг: The little town crowns a low plateau just out of reach of the flood plain of the nearby Deerfield River. | Another area needing careful management is the water meadow, where control of water flow is vital. | This faces out on to a flooded water meadow full of grazing buffaloes.

17. marsh [countable; uncountable] an area of low-lying flat land near a river, lake, or the sea that is always wet and soft and that is characterized by grassy vegetation and often forming a transition zone between water and land плодородная низменность; пойменное / травяное болото; топь: A former pool had silted up and was turning into a miniature reed marsh. | We followed them through the marsh, which smelled of dying plants. | Cattle fattening on the coastal marshes supported a prosperous peasantry as in Lincolnshire. | Miles of salt marsh stretched before us, reaching to the shores of the River Severn. | At the mouth of the river is a large area of marsh. | There is a complete progression of habitats from dry meadows through marshes and reed-beds to open water.

18. wetland [countable – often plural; uncountable] an area of low-lying flat land near a river, lake, or the sea, such as a marsh or swamp, that is partly covered with water, or is wet most of the time заболоченная территория, заболоченное место; сырой участок: It was a programme to preserve the state's wetlands. | This marshy wetland would have easily been converted for their use. | There are some areas of wetland which are of ancient origin.

19. fertile (adjective) fertile land or soil is able to produce good crops плодородный: a fertile field / area / plain | fertile soil / land / farmland / ground | Farmers left the rocky hills of New England for the fertile plains of the Middle West. | The valley was fertile, and a good crop was a near certainty. | The plains are fertile in native plants.

20. barren (adjective) (1) barren land or soil is dry and plants cannot grow there малоплодородный, неплодородный, бесплодный: barren land / soil | Soon barren land will begin to show signs of fertility. | He also wants to use the water to irrigate barren desert land.

(2) desolate a barren place is dry and empty, with few plants growing пустынный, необитаемый, безжизненный; пустой; заброшенный: Intense heat created a completely barren landscape, almost like the moon. | The house stood in a bleak and desolate landscape.

21. fertility [uncountable] the ability of the land or soil to produce good crops плодородие: to improve the fertility of the soil / soil fertility | loss of soil fertility | Throughout the nineteenth century fertility in Britain remained high. | Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are banned and soil fertility and pest control is achieved through crop rotation and mixed farming systems. | As well as contributing to declining soil fertility, such high sediment removal are causing problems with water supply by increasing reservoir siltation rates. | These differentials give us important clues about the motivation and causes of the fertility decline.

22. fertilizer [uncountable; countable] a natural or chemical substance added to soil in order to help plants grow удобрение: Bone meal and nitrates are common fertilizers. | The company said it will stop producing fertilizer in 1990 because of continued losses.

to use / apply / make use of / spread / work in a fertilizer | to put a fertilizer on one's land вносить / использовать удобрение; опрыскивать удобрением, разбрасывать удобрение: When I do fertilize the plants you mention, I use a high-phosphorus fertilizer. | I would apply a balanced fertilizer periodically. | There was greater specialization and more effective use was made of fertilizer. | Agriculturally, they had the structures necessary to mine fertilizers and annually spread them on their fields. | Work in a balanced fertilizer before planting. | I suppose such things were happy on our land because we never put chemical fertilizers on it.

to feed a crop with a fertilizer: All the soil does is hold the plants upright, while the crop is fed with artificial fertilizers.

application / use of a fertilizer: Paradoxically the ecological problems deriving from the application of artificial fertilizers are often equally complex and extensive. | An application of a balanced fertilizer once a month generally is adequate, but some gardeners apply diluted applications more often.| High levels of nitrate occur in Eastern England because of the heavy use of fertilizers.

artificial / chemical / natural / mineral / organic / liquid fertilizer: Controversy has also surrounded the long-term effects of artificial fertilizer on the soil structure. | Another useful salt is plain old chemical fertilizer. | The long-term dangers of land degradation from irrigation and chemical fertilizers are growing. | The colonial world can be hit by a shortage in chemical fertilizers.