Final answer:
Shifting cultivation or extensive horticulture involves a rotating system of farming where a new site is designated for cultivation every few years. This method is adopted especially in nutrient-poor tropical soils and makes use of ecosystem services by diverse organisms in the soil to maintain soil fertility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic of shifting cultivation, also referred to as extensive or horticulture farming, that the question is referring to is 'E) A new site is designated every few years.' These farming practices involve a rotation system where plots of land are cultivated for certain periods and then left to lie fallow while farmers cultivate other plots. This method allows for the natural regeneration and the accumulation of nutrients in the soil. Various plots of land may be in different stages of fallow and cultivation, depending on site-specific strategies. Shifting cultivation is an approach that's often performed in nutrient-poor tropical soils to mimic the seasonal crop cycles found in temperate zones. It also leverages the presence of diverse organisms in the soil that facilitate nutrient cycles and thus contributes to crop health. Different cultivation techniques are used depending on the local environmental conditions and resources available.
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