overcrop

[ verb oh-ver-krop; noun oh-ver-krop ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·cropped, o·ver·crop·ping.

1. Agriculture. to crop (land) to excess; exhaust the fertility of by continuous cropping.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·cropped, o·ver·crop·ping.

1. to produce a crop in excess of what is permitted, agreed on, or normally required, especially in an attempt to gain added profits by circumventing government regulations.

noun

1. a mark of identification on cattle, which is made by cutting a piece from the upper margin of the ear.

overcrop

/ ˌəʊvəˈkrɒp /

verb

1. tr to exhaust (land) by excessive cultivation

Word History and Origins

Origin of overcrop¹

First recorded in 1560–70; over- + crop

Example Sentences

Too often, when planted in the wrong places, overcropped or made carelessly, it disappoints.

From New York Times

And the cost saps budgets as surely as overcropping saps the soil.

From Economist

As each ranger has his land assigned to him and no one else can use it, the grass is not overcropped as it often is in regions outside the forests.

From Project Gutenberg

Since only one year's growth can be harvested annually the supply is not endangered by the pernicious practice of overcropping, which has contributed so much to the present high and increasing cost of pulp wood.

From Project Gutenberg

The lands are all overcropped and under-stocked with cattle and sheep from the want of pasture lands.

From Project Gutenberg