Nitrogen: The Key to Intensive Farming

Mark Overton the historian argues that the role of the 'Great Men' as pioneers and innovators in agricultural change has been exaggerated (Overton, 2004)

Names such as Jethro Tull, Lord Townshend, Arthur Young, Bakewell, Coke of Holkham and the Collings were not so revolutionary as usually taught. 'Turnip' Townshend was only a boy when turnips were first grown on his estate; Jethro Tull was not the first person to invent the seed drill, which was in any case slow in introduction. Coke of Holkham (four course rotation) was a self-publicist who overplayed his not always suitable method.

The reason for agricultural intensity in growing crops was a combination of need: an ever rising population with the greater use of nitrogen in the soil.

There was, in any case:

• Land reclamation
• Especially the fenlands
• Clearing of woodland
• 30 per cent of the agricultural area of England
• Permanent pasture went to arable land
• Fishing and fowling agriculture turned to arable crop management
• Rye (low yield) gave way to wheat and barley (high yield)
• No need to plough and weed fallow land:
• Turnips sown in rows allowed hoeing to remove weeds
• 20 per cent arable area as fallow in England in 1700 became 4 per cent in 1871
• There was also better farm management and more efficiency in using the workforce (e.g. following enclosures)

Most crucially converting nitrogen into nitrates in the soil allowed crops to grow more intensively:

• Nitrogen rich manure was collected and placed on arable land
• Clover was grown as well as peas and beans (legumes) where bacteria on the roots converted atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates in the soil

Overton, M, Agricultural Revolution in England 1500 - 1850 [Online],  World Wide Web, URL:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/society_culture/industrialisation/agricultural_revolution_01.shtm, to agricultural_revolution_01.shtm
[Last Accessed 3 November 2004, 23:00], BBCi.