Why did gasoline-powered tractors become common during World War I?

Gasoline-powered tractors became common during World War I as part of a broader shift in agricultural power sources. While steam engines had gained importance in the late 19th century, the internal-combustion engine offered a more efficient alternative for the demands of the era.12

The widespread adoption of these tractors was driven by the urgent need to increase food production to support the war effort. For example, in the United States, millions of acres of grassland were converted to cropland to grow wheat, a task that required the increased speed and efficiency provided by mechanized equipment like tractors and plows. By the time of the war, the tractor was already well-established as a viable technology, having evolved from early designs like the 1892 model built by John Froehlich. This transition allowed farmers to work larger areas of land more quickly and at a lower cost, setting the stage for the rapid mechanization of agriculture that continued throughout the 20th century.3241