#14 Intensive Techniques - Cornell Small Farms (2024)

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Intensive Growing Techniques

Urban farming often occurs in small spaces, and is otherwise constrained by the limited availability of land. As such, many urban farmers adopt intensive growing techniques to maximize productivity. Intensive growing techniques include:

  • Succession planting – Replanting in the same area to keep all parts of the garden in production;
  • Intercropping – Planting fast and slow growing crops in the same row at the same time;
  • Vertical planting – Growing crops on trellises or other supports to use space efficiently; and
  • Intensive spacing – Growing crops as closely together as possible to maximize use of space. With intensive spacing, plants also act as “living mulches” that reduce weed pressure and water evaporation. Keep in mind, however, that overly close spacing and limiting pruning can result in reduced airflow and plant disease.

More information on intensive growing techniques is available in the GreenThumb Gardener’s Handbook, available for download at www.greenthumbnyc.org/pdf/gardeners_handbook.pdf.

Small-Plot Intensive (SPIN) Farming

SPIN Farming is an intensive growing system that promotes high-productivity techniques and focuses on small farmer profitability, claiming that it is possible for SPIN farmers to gross $50,000 per year on just half an acre. For more information and to purchase SPIN learning guides, visit http://spinfarming.com/.

Square-Foot Gardening

Urban farmers growing in raised beds might consider Square Foot Gardening, a raised bed growing system that involves planting in grids to maximize space use and productivity. For more information, visit the Square Foot Gardening Foundation’s website at http://www.squarefootgardening.com/, or see Mel Bartholomew’s All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space (Cool Springs Press, 2006).

Other Resources

Several organizations, such as East New York Farms! (http://www.eastnewyorkfarms.org/), offer occasional workshops in intensive growing techniques and related concepts such as trellising. See Appendix A for organization information and check event calendars and postings. Though not in New York, an excellent example and resource of intensive urban production techniques is Growing Power (www.growingpower.org), which provides provides hands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, and outreach and technical assistance.
Sustainable Market Farming: Intensive Vegetable Production on a Few Acres by Pam Dawling (New Society Publishers, 2013) is a detailed manual of small-scale organic crop production that includes information on intensive growing techniques, as well as season extension, profitable enterprise business skills, and more. Visit the book’s website at http://sustainablemarketfarming.com/.

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#14 Intensive Techniques - Cornell Small Farms (2024)

FAQs

#14 Intensive Techniques - Cornell Small Farms? ›

Intensive growing techniques include: Succession planting – Replanting in the same area to keep all parts of the garden in production; Intercropping – Planting fast and slow growing crops in the same row at the same time; Vertical planting – Growing crops on trellises or other supports to use space efficiently; and.

What are the techniques of intensive agriculture? ›

Techniques include planting multiple crops per year, reducing the frequency of fallow years, improving cultivars, mechanised agriculture, controlled by increased and more detailed analysis of growing conditions, including weather, soil, water, weeds, and pests.

What is the intensive gardening method? ›

Instead, intensive gardeners will plant rows with two or three plants side-by-side, creating one wide double or triple row. This reduces the overall number of rows and the wasted space between them. Use the wide row method for all crops except vining plants like cucumbers and melons.

What is an intensive form of farming? ›

Intensive farming involves large inputs of labor/money relative to the size of the farmland. Intensive agriculture is all about efficiency—producing as much food as possible, proportionally. Major intensive farming crops include corn and soybeans, as well as wheat and rice.

What is the intensive cropping system? ›

Intensive cropping is an agricultural technique that involves the cultivation of more than a single crop in an agricultural field in an annual cycle. This involves planting different crops according to their respective seasons.

What are the three characteristics of intensive farming practices? ›

Explanation: Three characteristics of intensive farming practices are the use of a small number of crops, frequent cultivation of the same plots, and the generation of surplus for trade.

How can we reduce intensive farming? ›

Some strategies include improving energy efficiency, opting for conservation agriculture, using sustainable fertilizers or reducing land use, among others. Some farms have even begun harnessing solar energy or opting for renewable energy to meet their fuel needs.

What is an example of intensive gardening? ›

Intensive growing techniques include: Succession planting – Replanting in the same area to keep all parts of the garden in production; Intercropping – Planting fast and slow growing crops in the same row at the same time; Vertical planting – Growing crops on trellises or other supports to use space efficiently; and.

Is intensive gardening the same as square foot gardening? ›

Intensive gardening is a generic term used to describe methods of maximizing the garden space you use to grow your plants. Square foot gardening, an intensive gardening technique, was popularized by Mel Bartholomew in his book Square Foot Gardening.

Which gardening approach grows the most yield? ›

No-Dig: To maximize yields over time, consider taking a no-dig gardening approach. In no-dig gardening, the soil is protected and preserved. It is disturbed as little as possible so that the soil web is able to function as it should.

What is one-way intensive agriculture? ›

Intensive agriculture is the method of farming in which large amounts of labor and investment are used to increase the yield of the land. This is basically done with the help of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals that increases yield with fewer resources.

Is intensive farming large or small? ›

Definition: A system of raising crops and animals, usually on small parcels of land, where a comparatively large amount of production inputs or labor are used per acre. Compare extensive farming.

Is intensive farming extensive? ›

Intensive agriculture involves high levels of input, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and technology, to maximize crop yield, whereas extensive agriculture relies on lower levels of input and larger land areas.

What is the difference between intensive and extensive farming? ›

Optimal use of these materials and machines produces significantly greater crop yields per unit of land than extensive agriculture, which uses little capital or labour. As a result, a farm using intensive agriculture will require less land than an extensive agriculture farm to produce a similar profit.

What are the three types of cropping? ›

Cropping Patterns-Mixed Cropping, Intercropping, Crop Rotation.

Is monocropping intensive? ›

Intensive monocropping is a farming practice where large areas of land are dedicated solely to growing a single crop year after year without rotating crops or allowing fallow periods. This practice often requires heavy use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation.

Does intensive agriculture use technology? ›

Farming and Ranching

Modern farms and agricultural operations work far differently than those a few decades ago, primarily because of advancements in technology, including sensors, devices, machines, and information technology.

What are the characteristics of extensive agriculture? ›

extensive agriculture, in agricultural economics, system of crop cultivation using small amounts of labour and capital in relation to area of land being farmed. The crop yield in extensive agriculture depends primarily on the natural fertility of the soil, the terrain, the climate, and the availability of water.

Does intensive farming use machinery? ›

Intensive farming uses machinery. Intensive farming is a form of agriculture that is characterized by the use of large amounts of labor and capital per unit area of land. It tends to be commercial in nature. It uses machinery like tractors and combine harvesters to increase the efficiency of the production process.

How has intensive agriculture changed the world? ›

Intensive farming has already had a huge effect on biodiversity and the environment worldwide. Pesticides, which have helped boost cereal and fruit production, have also killed bees and myriad species of insects in large numbers. Fertilisers that have improved poor soils have also had unintended harmful consequences.

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