Open fields are landscapes that are not surrounded by trees and are more exposed to wind, rain, and light (The Editors of Encyclopedia, 2019).  The plants in these areas tend to be short and not fully grown because of the limit of water, and the animals are adapted to the exposure as well as the limited resources (The Editors of Encyclopedia, 2019). 

Bad agricultural practices can ruin soil and strip open field ecosytems of life. If the crops are not rotated correctly, the soil can become infertile which may lead to nothing nothing being able to grow for a long time. Also, monocropping, which is the practice of growing only one crop at a time, can deplete the soil's nutrients. (National Geographic, 2019)

Urban sprawl alters the open fields ecosystem heavily. Urbanization causes increased human habitation, impermeable surfaces which does not allow water to pass into the soil and filter out pollutants, artificial structures, broken landscape fragmentation, and habitat loss. (van der Walt et al. 2015)

Invasive species cause dramatic changes to the prairie ecosystem and contribute to habitat loss. Introduced species compete with the native species and can spread quickly throughout the ecosystem. (Heitstuman, 2009). 

400 studies found that pesticides harm soil-dwelling invertebrates such as earthworms, ants, beetles, and ground-nesting bees. This is concerning as it points to pesticides being a primary factor in the decline of beneficial insects that contribute to biological diversity within the prairie/open field ecosystem. (New Study: Agricultural Pesticides Cause Widespread Harm to Soil Health, Threaten Biodiversity, n.d.) 

Climate change will effect the open fields by increasing the overall temperatures: shorter, warmer winters and severe hot summers. This will lead to intense droughts which can cause loss of wetland habitats and can cause prarie potholes. There is also a greater risk for wildfires. (climatechange.org)