The Second Agricultural Revolution changed farming in Britain and beyond. It happened between the 1600s and 1800s.
This time saw big jumps in how much food farms could grow.

The Second Agricultural Revolution brought huge gains in crop yields and farm output from the mid-1600s to late 1800s. New ways of growing crops and raising animals led to more food. This meant fewer food shortages for people.
Farmers tried new things during this time. They rotated crops in smart ways. They also bred better animals.
These changes helped farms make more food with the same amount of land.
Key Takeaways
- The Second Agricultural Revolution greatly increased farm output and food supplies
- New crop rotation methods and animal breeding techniques improved farming efficiency
- These changes had far-reaching effects on society, the economy, and the environment
Historical Context
The Second Agricultural Revolution emerged from centuries of gradual progress in farming methods. It built on earlier advances while introducing new technologies and practices that transformed agriculture.
From Middle Ages to Modernization
In the Middle Ages, European farming relied on basic tools and traditional methods. Crop yields were low and famines common.
The First Agricultural Revolution brought some improvements like crop rotation and better plows.
By the 1700s, Great Britain was ready for major change. New ideas about science and economics sparked innovation.
Wealthy landowners began experimenting with new crops and breeding techniques. They enclosed open fields to create larger, more efficient farms.
These changes laid the groundwork for rapid progress. Inventors created machines to speed up planting and harvesting.
Farmers adopted fertilizers to boost soil fertility. Agricultural output grew dramatically.
Comparative Revolutions
The Second Agricultural Revolution happened alongside the Industrial Revolution. Both transformed society through technology and new ways of working.
The earlier revolution focused on basic improvements like crop rotation. The second brought mechanization and scientific farming methods. It led to much bigger gains in productivity.
In Great Britain, the agricultural changes fueled industrial growth. More food meant more workers could move to cities and factories. Higher farm profits provided capital for new industries.
Other nations soon adopted British innovations. The revolution spread across Europe and North America in the 1800s. It reshaped rural life and economies worldwide.
The Advances in Farming Techniques
The Second Agricultural Revolution brought big changes to farming. New methods and tools helped farmers grow more food on their land.
Crop Rotation and Soil Fertility
Farmers found better ways to use their fields. They stopped leaving land empty and started rotating crops. This meant planting different crops each year in the same field.
The Norfolk Four-Course Rotation was a smart new system. It went like this:
- Wheat
- Turnips
- Barley
- Clover
This rotation kept the soil healthy. Turnips and clover added nutrients back to the earth. Farmers could also feed these crops to animals.
Crop rotation helped farmers grow more food without using up all the soil’s goodness.
Seed Drill Innovation
Jethro Tull made a big impact on farming with his seed drill. Before, farmers scattered seeds by hand. This wasted many seeds.
The seed drill planted seeds in straight rows at the right depth. It had these parts:
- A hopper to hold seeds
- A tube to drop seeds into the ground
- A plow to dig a small trench
- A harrow to cover the seeds with soil
This tool saved seeds and helped more plants grow. Crops in rows were also easier to tend and harvest.
Mechanization of Farming
New machines made farm work faster and easier. Steam tractors appeared in 1868. They could pull heavy plows and other tools.
Other new farm machines included:
- Gang plows to dig multiple furrows at once
- Sulky plows that let farmers ride instead of walk
- Spring-tooth harrows to prepare soil for planting
These machines let farmers work more land with less effort. They could grow more food to feed the growing population.
Livestock and Breeding Improvements
The Second Agricultural Revolution brought big changes to how farmers raised animals. New methods helped create better livestock and more food.
Selective Breeding of Livestock
Selective breeding became a key practice during this time. Farmers picked the best animals to mate. They looked for traits like size, meat quality, and milk production.
Robert Bakewell was a pioneer in this field. He bred cattle and sheep for desired traits. His work led to bigger, meatier animals that grew faster.
Bakewell’s methods spread across England. Soon, many farmers were using selective breeding. This led to new, improved breeds of cattle and sheep.
Impact on Food Production
The new breeding techniques had a big effect on food supply. Livestock became more productive. Cattle gave more milk. Sheep grew more wool.
Meat production went up. Animals reached market weight faster. This meant more food for a growing population.
Better animals also needed less feed. Farmers could raise more livestock on the same amount of land. This made farming more efficient.
Agrarian Economic and Social Changes
The Second Agricultural Revolution brought big changes to farming and society. New tools and methods changed how people lived and worked on farms.
Impact of Agricultural Change on Society
Increased food production led to population growth. More food meant people could have bigger families. This growth helped cities get bigger too.
As farms made more food, fewer workers were needed. Many people moved to cities to find jobs. This shift from rural to urban areas is called urbanization.
The extra food also helped the economy grow. Farmers could sell their extra crops. This gave them more money to buy things and invest.
Enclosures and Land Reforms
Enclosures were a big change in how land was used. They turned shared land into private property.
This new system helped some farmers try new methods. They could grow more food on their own land. But it also meant some people lost access to land they used before.
Land ownership became more concentrated. Rich landowners bought up smaller farms. This changed how rural communities worked and lived.
These changes meant farms needed different amounts of labor. Some new methods needed more workers, while others needed less.
Technological Advances and New Crops
The Second Agricultural Revolution brought major changes to farming methods and crop production. New tools and plants reshaped agriculture in Europe and beyond.
Introduction of New Crop Varieties
Farmers began growing new crops like turnips during this period. Turnips could feed livestock over winter. This allowed farmers to keep more animals year-round.
Clover was another important new crop. It added nitrogen to soil and provided animal feed. Farmers planted clover as part of crop rotations.
Potatoes became a key food source. They gave high yields and grew well in poor soil. Potatoes helped feed growing populations in Europe.
Improvements in Crop Yields
The Norfolk four-course system boosted crop yields. It rotated wheat, turnips, barley, and clover. This method kept fields productive without leaving them fallow.
Better tools increased efficiency. Metal plows replaced wooden ones. They dug deeper and turned soil better. Seed drills planted seeds in neat rows. This saved seed and made weeding easier.
Selective breeding created hardier livestock and plants. Farmers chose the best animals and seeds to produce offspring. Over time, this led to higher-yielding crops and more productive farm animals.
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
The Second Agricultural Revolution brought major changes to farming practices. These changes affected the environment and raised questions about long-term sustainability.
Soil Management and Fertility
Farmers began using new methods to improve soil health. They rotated crops more often and added manure to boost soil fertility. This helped maintain nutrients in the soil.
Clover and other legumes were planted to add nitrogen. Farmers also used lime to reduce soil acidity. These practices increased crop yields without chemical fertilizers.
But not all changes were good for the soil. Some areas saw overgrazing by livestock. This led to soil erosion in places.
Effects of Intensive Farming
The push for higher crop yields had mixed results. Farmers cleared more land for crops and pastures. This reduced wildlife habitat in many areas.
New plowing techniques disturbed more soil. This sometimes led to erosion problems.
The use of chemical fertilizers increased crop production. But it also caused water pollution in some places. Excess nutrients washed into streams and lakes.
Intensive farming allowed more food to be grown on less land. This reduced pressure to clear new farmland in some regions.
The Global Influence of Agricultural Practices
The Second Agricultural Revolution spread farming innovations beyond Britain. New methods and tools changed agriculture worldwide. This led to increased food production and population growth in many countries.
Expansion Beyond Britain
Britain’s agricultural advances spread to Europe and beyond. Farmers in other countries adopted new crop rotation systems and improved livestock breeding techniques. These changes boosted crop yields and animal productivity.
Technological innovations like the seed drill and iron plow moved to other regions. This helped increase food production in many places. European settlers also took these farming methods to colonies in the Americas and Australia.
The revolution sparked a rise in agricultural imports and exports. Countries traded more crops, seeds, and livestock. This global exchange of agricultural goods and ideas reshaped farming practices worldwide.
The Continuing Legacy
The Second Agricultural Revolution’s impact continues today. Many modern farming methods have roots in this period.
Crop rotation and selective breeding are still key parts of agriculture.
The revolution set the stage for the Third Agricultural Revolution. This later phase brought chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and farm machinery.
These tools further increased crop yields and farm efficiency.
Today’s global food system still reflects changes from the Second Agricultural Revolution. Large-scale farming, specialized crop production, and international food trade all trace back to this era.
The revolution’s effects on land use and rural society also persist in many parts of the world.