What was a prominent result of the enclosure movement in agriculture?

The enclosure movement significantly transformed agriculture by consolidating small plots of land into larger, privately owned farms. This shift enabled landowners to implement new agricultural techniques and innovations, which improved efficiency and crop yields.

With the advent of crop rotation, selective breeding, and the use of new machinery, these larger farms could produce more food at a lower cost compared to the traditional communal farming methods. As a result, there was a notable increase in the overall output of agricultural products, which played a crucial role in feeding a growing population during the Industrial Revolution.

The other options reflect outcomes that are not aligned with the realities of the enclosure movement. Small farms were often eliminated as individuals lost their land to larger estates, landowners typically saw an increase in profits as they optimized their agricultural practices, and communal farming diminished as private ownership replaced shared farming practices. Thus, the most accurate portrayal of the enclosure movement’s impact is the improvement it brought to efficiency and crop yields.