The layout and use of fields. The extent and use of fields varies with the natural environment, the nature of the crops and livestock produced, and aspects of the culture of the farming community such as inheritance rights and available technology. See M. Aston (1983) for medieval field systems in Britain; M. Widgren and J. Sutton, eds. (1999) on the Engaruka field system, Tanzania; Xiong (1999) Toung Pao 85, 4–5 on the highly political equal-field system in China and Japan; and McCoy (2005) J. Polynesian Sociol. 116, 4.