It doesn't make much sense. You basically punish efficient usage of land with that system. If a peasant comes up with a idea that allows him to grow the same amount of crops for the same amount of work with half the land he has no incentive to reduce his land use.

In California you see how water drawing rights that work that way, produce problems. A farmer has to use all his water drawing rights or lose his rights and he can't resell his drawing rights. Water would be more efficiently used if water drawing rights could be easily transferred and wouldn't be use-it-or-lose it.