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This innovative plough design removed the cumbersome wheel, making it lighter and easier to maneuver in the field. Farmers could turn heavy soils more efficiently, which reduced labor and increased productivity. Its adoption in northern Europe helped prepare farmland for more intensive crop cultivation.
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The Enclosure Acts legally combined small strips of farmland into larger, privately owned plots. This increased agricultural efficiency and allowed for modern farming methods like crop rotation. However, many small farmers were displaced, leading to migration to cities and the growth of the labor force for industrialization.
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Townsend promoted the use of nitrogen-fixing crops like turnips and clover to restore soil fertility. He advocated rotating crops instead of letting fields lie fallow, which allowed more continuous production. His methods became a central part of the Norfolk Four Course Crop Rotation system.
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Projects that converted marshes and wetlands into arable farmland, expanding usable land for crops.
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Jethro Tull invented the seed drill to plant seeds in straight rows at a consistent depth. This improved germination rates, reduced wasted seed, and increased crop yields. His machine was widely adopted across Europe and became a key part of modernizing agriculture.
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Rotation system using wheat, turnips, barley, and clover to maintain soil fertility and allow continuous production.
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Systematic breeding of livestock for desirable traits, increasing meat, wool, and milk production.
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Promoted potato cultivation as a high-yield, nutritious crop to support population growth in Britain.
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Agricultural writer and reformer who documented farming innovations and advocated modern techniques for increased productivity.
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Improved transportation and trade networks allowed farmers to sell surplus crops nationwide, integrating local economies into a broader market.