Crossword Genius

It prevents rocky ground becoming really stony (7-8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

poverty-stricken

'really stony' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'it prevents rocky ground' is the wordplay.
'ground' indicates an anagram ('grind' the letters into a new form).
'it'+'prevents'+'rocky'='itpreventsrocky'
'itpreventsrocky' with letters rearranged gives 'POVERTY-STRICKEN'.

'becoming' is the link.

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