Development of Intensive Agriculture

• What is the benefit of larger fields in agriculture?

  Increased productivity and lower overheads
• What is a consequence of monoculture in agriculture?

  Problems with soil quality and pest spread
• What happens to hedges when fields are enlarged?

  Hedges are removed
• What is crop rotation?

  Growing different crops in succession
• Why is it important to maintain soil nutrients?

  Plants use nutrients as they grow
• What can be grown to replenish nitrogen in soil?

  Legumes
• Why do gardeners avoid planting brassicas in the same place?

  High likelihood of disease spreading
• How does drainage affect plant growth?

  Drier soils promote strong root development
• What is a benefit of strong, deep-rooted plants?

  Increased resistance during drought
• How does climate change affect rainfall patterns?

  It causes intense rainfall to occur more frequently
• Why is well-drained soil important for agriculture?

  It recovers quicker from heavy rainfall
• What is diversification in farming?

  Altering traditional farming methods
• How does diversification help farmers?

  Increases resilience to problems
• Larger Fields

  Bigger fields allow machines to be used, increasing productivity as tasks are completed faster and more efficiently. Larger farms can also increase profits as overheads are lower. Overheads include machinery, insurance, utilities, and paying professionals. Having a large area growing only one crop can lead to monoculture. The growing of just one crop on a large area of land can lead to problems with soil quality and the spread of pests. In order to make fields larger, hedges which are home to a wide range of beneficial wild animals and insects, are removed.
• Crop Rotation

  This is when different crops are grown in succession to help maintain the soil's nutrients. As plants grow, they use up nutrients in the soil. It takes time, naturally, for these nutrients to replenish. Fields can either be left to fallow or a regenerative plant e.g. legume, can be grown. These add nitrogen back into the soil. There are also lots of specific diseases which attack only one kind of plant.
• Drainage

  Drier soils make plants and grasses develop strong roots. This helps them access nutrients from the soil and increases crop yield. Strong, deep rooted plants are more resistant during periods of drought. Well drained soils can recover from rainfall quicker. Dried soils emit less nitrous oxide.
• Diversification

  This is altering the way a farm is traditionally run. This could be by introducing new crops or by adding other ways to help the farm make money. Diversification can help farmers become more resistant to problems particularly when extreme weather events are increasing due to climate change.