Leave land untended (6)

I believe the answer is:

desert

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'leave' is the definition.
(desert can mean to leave or abandon)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for desert that I've seen before include "Kalahari, e.g." , "Sahara, Gobi, etc" , "unproductive area" , "Uncultivated" , "Sandy wilderness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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