bar·ren
 /ˈberən/  adj  
  1 a : having very few plants : not suitable for plants
   a barren [=desolate] landscape
   a barren desert
   Few creatures can thrive on these barren mountaintops.
  1 b : not producing fruit or not able to produce fruit
   a barren tree
   a barren orchard
  2 old-fashioned, of a woman or female animal : not able to produce children or offspring : infertile
   a barren woman
  3 [more ~; most ~] : not exciting or interesting
   The book was good, but I found the barren lives of the characters depressing.
   a very barren routine
  4 : not producing good or useful things, ideas, etc.
   an artist who is going through a barren period
   a barren mind
  barren of
    formal   : not having (something) : without
    a hillside barren of trees
  bar·ren·ness  noun   [  noncount  ]
   the barrenness of the land/soil