Farming Systems

Farming systems are the various methods of crop production to obtain human food and animal feed, fibers and other industrial products, or energy crops. Geographical differences are due to historical processes, environmental conditions, and the level of capitalization. Each farming system has specific production objectives, inputs and means of production, and a degree of intensification. Market farming is very input-intensive with pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and mechanization, while selfconsumption farming ensures food for the household, and is very intensive in labor and land. There is also a broad range of combinations of agriculture with other production systems, such as livestock breeding, aquaculture, or forestry.

The most universal farming system is polyculture, which provides a diversity of food and maximizes labor and land occupation. Crop rotation increases soil ...