Final answer:
Horticulturalists use a shifting practice of field use to avoid depleting soil nutrients, allowing plots to regenerate by lying fallow and moving cultivation to new fields elsewhere. This practice is part of a sustainable agriculture method that supports the livelihood of extended families and is structured around natural seasonal cycles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Horticulturalists usually adopt a shifting pattern of field use because the process of cultivating crops depletes soil nutrients over time. To allow soil fertility to regenerate, they leave a plot of land fallow, meaning no crops are grown and natural vegetation is allowed to regrow, thus replenishing the soil. While one plot lies fallow, horticulturalists clear and cultivate a new field elsewhere. This shifting cultivation prevents exhausting the soil and ensures long-term productivity of the land.
Earlier agricultural societies in Europe also used crop rotation for the same reasons, but with the onset of market economies, some farmers looked for quicker methods to amend their soils. However, the sustainable practice of horticulture with its extensive use of multiple plots incorporates a cycle that adapts to the natural rhythm of soil regeneration.
The work involved in plant cultivation is significant and often structured around the seasonal cycles, affecting the social life and economic stability of agricultural communities. The practice of rotating fields is not only beneficial for the soil but also supports the livelihood of extended-family households that depend on agriculture for subsistence and modest surplus production.