Farming is a way of life that has been practiced for thousands of years. This practice uses land and resources to grow plants and animals for human consumption. The most common form of farming is intensive farming which uses large amounts of inputs such as fertilizer and increased irrigation to increase output per unit area. However, other more sustainable forms of agriculture exist, such as extensive or low-input agriculture.
Extensive Farming
Extensive farming is growing a large area of land to produce food. It is known to be low input and also low output. It produces less than intensive farming.
This kind of farming is usually practiced by people who live in areas where the soil quality is not very good for growing crops, such as forests and grasslands. Farmers have a bigger land size than their animals, hence extensive farming.
It is suitable for a place with good sunlight and abundant rainfall. Most people in developed countries prefer extensive farming because the vast majority of the land in these countries is used for intensive crops or is under conservation.
This kind of farming needs large pieces of land to produce food for human consumption. It is called extensive because it uses natural resources such as sunlight, soil, and rainfall instead of intensive methods, which use inorganic fertilizers and chemicals.
Characteristics of Extensive Farming
The main advantage of this type of agriculture is that it has less impact on the environment than other forms. Therefore, it can be practiced anywhere in the world without causing any harm to the ecosystem or native species living there.
Farming on a Large Piece of Land
It is a form of farming that requires a large piece of land. It is known to be low input and also low output. It uses natural resources such as sunlight, soil, rainfall, etc. It is also known as sustainable or eco-friendly farming. It does not use any chemical fertilizers, herbicides, etc.
Low Input and Low Output
Extensive farming is low input and low output. In other words, growing crops requires fewer inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides while producing relatively less crop per unit area. For example, extensive farming can be done on a small scale using traditional methods like animal manure and planting seeds in rows or blocks.
On the other hand, intensive farming uses high inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides and uses large machinery like tractors to cultivate crops at an increased rate.
Also Read –
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- Impact of Technology on Agriculture
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Makes Use of Natural Resources
Extensive farming uses natural resources such as sunlight, soil, rainfall, etc. It also requires a large piece of land compared with intensive methods. It does not require much input or investment from farmers. It is known to be low input and output, i.e., it produces less than intensive farming.
Suitable for a Place with Good Sunlight and Abundant Rainfall
The crops require plenty of sunlight to grow well. If there is not enough sunlight, the plants will be unable to photosynthesize and produce food through photosynthesis. These crops may also suffer from other problems, such as pests or diseases. Extensive farming is suitable for a place with good sunlight and abundant rainfall.
Extensive Farming in Developed Countries
The majority of people in developed countries prefer extensive farming because the vast majority of the land in this country is used for intensive crops or is under conservation.
Extensive farming, also known as low-input or traditional farming, is suitable for areas with sufficient sunlight and rainfall. This farming involves using only one crop at a time to avoid soil exhaustion.
The crops are grown during different seasons to prevent competition between them (e.g., wheat can be planted during spring while corn is planted during summer). Also, no fertilizers are used on the crops in this system—the nutrient levels are maintained naturally by rotating crops and using cover crops that absorb nutrients from the soil before decomposing.
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- How To Use Neem Oil on a Plant As A Soil Drench?
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- Neem Oil Uses in the Garden
- Plant Biostimulants
More Food Per Hectare
Intensive farming refers to the practice of producing more food per hectare. It means they produce more food per hectare because they need less space per animal. This is done by having animals in cages or pens, which allows the farmer to control the animals’ diet and health.
Extensive Farming Vs. Intensive farming
Intensive farming is more efficient and uses less land than extensive agriculture. However, intensive farms tend to use more resources like water and fuel for equipment such as tractors and airplanes for transporting animals from one place to another (such as from pastures). In addition, intensive farms also tend to pollute more because no natural predators keep populations down or control waste produced by their activities.
Final Words
In extensive farming, the farmer uses few inputs and relies more on natural ways of growing crops. This means that they are not using as much fertilizer or pesticides as someone who practices intensive farming would use. This type of farming is much less expensive because it does not require machinery or equipment as tractors do, but it also doesn’t produce as much food.
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