Which farming method is characterized by exhausted soils and low output?

• A. Subsistence Farming
• B. Commercial Farming
• C. Mixed Farming
• D. Intensive Farming

Answer: (A)

Farming systems differ in how they manage land, inputs, and yields. Subistence farming typically uses small, family-run plots with little external input and aims to feed the household rather than produce surplus. Because soil is repeatedly cropped with minimal soil-restoration practices and limited use of fertilizers or modern technology, soil fertility declines over time, leading to exhausted soils and low output. Other systems involve higher inputs or different aims: commercial farming strives for high-output sale, intensive farming concentrates on maximizing yield per area with heavy inputs, and mixed farming combines crops with livestock and can sustain higher productivity when managed well. Therefore, the description of exhausted soils and low output matches subsistence farming.