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What characterizes intensive subsistence agriculture?
The use of advanced farming machinery
Heavy reliance on human labor and fertilizers on small plots of land
The production of a wide variety of crops for export
The establishment of large-scale plantations
The correct answer is: Heavy reliance on human labor and fertilizers on small plots of land
Intensive subsistence agriculture is characterized by a heavy reliance on human labor and the use of fertilizers on small plots of land. This type of farming is typically found in areas where land is limited, and farmers must maximize the output from their available plots. By using high levels of labor input, intensive subsistence farmers are able to cultivate crops more intensively, which often includes practices such as multiple cropping or intercropping. In contrast to extensive agricultural practices that may make use of larger areas with fewer inputs, intensive subsistence agriculture focuses on intensive care and management of small areas to yield the maximum amount of food possible. Fertilizers are often utilized to enhance soil fertility, which further underscores the focus on increasing productivity within constrained land resources. The other choices reflect different agricultural practices that do not align with the principles of intensive subsistence farming. For instance, the use of advanced machinery and the establishment of large-scale plantations would not typically be part of the subsistence model, which is more labor-intensive and reliant on traditional techniques. Additionally, the focus on producing a variety of crops for export is more representative of commercial agriculture rather than the subsistence model, where the primary goal is to feed the farmer's family rather than to generate surplus for sale.