Farming Techniques
Edited by Joe Naumann
Agriculture
• Agriculture includes both subsistence agriculture, which
is producing enough food to meet the needs of the
farmer and family, but no more) and also (almost
universally in the "developed" nations and increasingly
so in other areas) the production of financial income from
cultivation of the land or commercial raising of animals
(animal husbandry)
• In the Western world, use of improved genetics, better
management of soil nutrients, and improved weed
control have greatly increased yields per acre. At the
same time, use of mechanization has decreased labor
requirements, releasing most of the populace from
intense agricultural labor.
Crop Rotation
• Some of the general purposes of rotations
are to improve or maintain soil fertility,
reduce erosion, reduce the build-up of
pests, spread the workload, reduce risk of
weather damage, reduce reliance on
agricultural chemicals, and increase net
profits.
Terrace Farming
• Terrace farming consists
of building a series of step
like benches. These
benches are supported by
either sod or stone walls.
Each level slows the flow
of water runoff, slowing the
erosion process.
• They also bring into tillage
areas that formerly could
not be farmed.
• Much of the rice that
comes from Vietnam,
Thailand, and other
Southeast Asian countries
is grown on terraces.
• This is a very laborintensive method used
where level land is scarce.
Slash and Burn Agriculture
• Small-scale, tropical,
subsistence farming
has sustained people
for centuries
• Large-scale
conversion of forests
for agricultural lands,
however, is the most
important cause of
deforestation in the
tropics.
Paddy Farming
• Is labor intensive and is conducted mostly by
East Asian countries.
Large-scale, Machine-intensive
Agriculture
• It is practiced
on grasslands
like the North
American
Great Plains,
Russian
steppes,
Pampas of
Argentina,
etc.
Hybrid seeds, chemical insecticides, fungicides, and
fertilizers are used in this farming technique.
Successful farms are large and have large
investments in capital equipment.