ABSTRACT
Background Agricultural methods developed by early or prehistoric farmers are shown to provide the foundation for many modern agricultural practices. Important practices that derive from traditional agricultural knowledge include crop domestication and selection for desired characters; seed selection and protection during storage; preparation of land by terracing, irrigation, and mulching; and mixed or rotational cropping systems to reduce disease or preserve fertility.
Relevance The possible benefit and wider application of other inexpensive, sustainable traditional practices should be re-examined. This might result in earth-friendly agricultural practices.304
