In return for King Indra’s benediction that ditches in the earth would be filled automatically, the land accepted one fourth of the sinful reactions for killing a brāhmaṇa. Because of those sinful reactions, we find many deserts on the surface of the earth.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
भूम्यम्बुद्रुमयोषिद्भ्यश्चतुर्धा व्यभजद्धरिः । भूमिस्तुरीयं जग्राह खातपूरवरेण वै
bhūmyambudrumayoṣidbhyaścaturdhā vyabhajaddhariḥ | bhūmisturīyaṃ jagrāha khātapūravareṇa vai
SB 6.9.7