Ploughing

Roman farmers used the ard, a simple soil breaker, to plough the fields. The field was ploughed twice at directions in right angles to each other to form an even surface. Since the soil was often heavy and contained roots and vines, heavy oxen were used to draw the plough.

Pliny the Elder described different types of ploughshares, such as the knife-like curved blade used for thick soil, the normal ploughshare which was a bar which tapered to a point, and even the plough with two small wheels attached to it.

Irrigation

The Romans built dams and reservoirs for irrigation. Their reservoirs were lined with waterproof cement; some had an area of almost 2000 square metres. Irrigation was necessary in light of the increasing size and hence population of the Empire; it helped maintain the output of foodgrains.

Maintenance

Hoeing and weeding were done in much the same way as in the non-mechanised rural communities of today, but the Romans had knowledge of growing different crops concurrently to reduce the growth of weeds. The benefits of animal wastes as manure were known; cattle were often left to graze on fallow land to replenish it with their manure.

Harvesting

During harvesting, the Romans improved on the basic curved sickle by making the handle at an angle to the hilt, thus easing the strain on the wrist while cutting hay. A mowing scythe of great size was used to mow large areas of crops. In Gaul, a mechanism was developed for removing the heads of the crop while leaving the stalk rooted. A frame drawn by cattle used teeth or blades positioned at the appropriate height to cut the heads off the plants, allowing them to fall into a collecting container. This is perhaps the earliest mechanical harvester ever invented. Today, the mechanical harvester is used to increase efficiency and productivity in farms the world over. Its humble beginnings in the fields of Gaul cannot be overlooked.

Milling

The Romans introduced the rotary process in milling grain, a development which would later lead to the water mill. Water mills were hence known in around 20 BCE. The largest known setup of water mills, built around 300 CE, had two rows of eight wheels each placed one below the other, and water cascaded down running the wheels in turn. Different milling processes gave different grades of flour. Hand milling was in existence; one hand drove the mill while the other fed it with grain.

Animal Husbandry

Romans used oxen, mules and donkeys for work and sheep for their milk, wool meat and manure. Pigs were also reared. Goats, apart from providing food, were reared for their hair which was used to make ropes. Sheep and pigs were kept in pens. Birds, such as fancy ducks and peacocks, were gourmet items and hence reared with great care in aviaries or ponds.

Romans began the system of breeding animals for better traits. This science is today used to improve breeds of livestock to give better yields and other favourable characteristics. Thus, the Romans left their mark on the science of animal husbandry.  Effort was also taken in training plough oxen, which could be wild at times. They were trained to walk at the right pace to pull ploughs and wagons..