4.1 Agricultural location theory and land use patterns

Agricultural location theory explores how farmers decide where to grow crops and raise livestock. It considers factors like soil quality, climate, and distance to markets. These decisions shape land use patterns, creating a mosaic of farms across the landscape.

Von Thünen's model, a key concept in this theory, explains how different types of farming are arranged around cities. It shows how transportation costs and land values influence what crops are grown where, from vegetables near towns to grazing land far away.

Agricultural Land Use Patterns

Factors Influencing Agricultural Land Use

Top images from around the web for Factors Influencing Agricultural Land Use

• 

  Frontiers | Climate Change and Salinity Effects on Crops and Chemical Communication Between ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Land Use in Agriculture - Our World In Data View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Climate Change, Land, Water, and Food Security: Perspectives From Sub-Saharan Africa View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Climate Change and Salinity Effects on Crops and Chemical Communication Between ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Land Use in Agriculture - Our World In Data View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Factors Influencing Agricultural Land Use

• 

  Frontiers | Climate Change and Salinity Effects on Crops and Chemical Communication Between ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Land Use in Agriculture - Our World In Data View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Climate Change, Land, Water, and Food Security: Perspectives From Sub-Saharan Africa View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Climate Change and Salinity Effects on Crops and Chemical Communication Between ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Land Use in Agriculture - Our World In Data View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Physical factors such as climate, soil quality, and topography influence agricultural land use patterns
• Socio-economic factors like market demand, transportation costs, and government policies also shape agricultural land use
• The spatial distribution of agricultural land use can be categorized into intensive farming systems (typically located closer to urban centers) and extensive farming systems (in more remote areas)
• Agricultural location theory seeks to explain the spatial patterns of agricultural land use by considering the interplay between land rent, transportation costs, and market prices
• The intensity of agricultural land use tends to decrease with increasing distance from urban centers as the cost of transporting goods to market increases and land rents decrease

Changes in Agricultural Land Use Over Time

• Technological advancements (mechanization, improved crop varieties) can lead to changes in agricultural land use patterns
• Changes in consumer preferences (organic produce, exotic fruits) can drive shifts in agricultural production
• Government policies (subsidies, land use regulations) can incentivize or discourage certain types of agricultural land use
• Globalization and international trade can introduce new crops and alter the spatial distribution of agricultural production (bananas, coffee)

Von Thünen's Model for Agriculture

Assumptions and Key Concepts

• Von Thünen's model assumes a single market center, a homogeneous physical landscape, and rational economic decision-making by farmers
• The model explains the spatial distribution of agricultural land use based on the relationship between land rent, transportation costs, and market prices
• Agricultural land use is arranged in concentric rings around the market center, with each ring representing a different type of agricultural product
• Land rent decreases with increasing distance from the market center as transportation costs increase and the intensity of land use decreases

Agricultural Land Use Rings

• The innermost ring is occupied by perishable and high-value crops that require intensive cultivation and quick transportation to the market (dairy products, fresh vegetables)
• As the distance from the market center increases, the rings are occupied by progressively less perishable and lower-value crops (grains, livestock)
• The outermost ring may be dedicated to extensive grazing or forestry, which have the lowest land rent and transportation costs
• The specific arrangement of agricultural land use rings can vary depending on local conditions and market demand (specialty crops, niche markets)

Transportation Costs and Agricultural Location

Impact of Transportation Costs on Agricultural Profitability

• High transportation costs can limit the range of agricultural products that can be profitably grown in a given location as the cost of transporting goods to market may exceed the revenue generated from their sale
• Improvements in transportation infrastructure (roads, railways, ports) can reduce transportation costs and expand the range of agricultural products that can be profitably grown in a given location
• The development of refrigeration and other preservation technologies has allowed for the long-distance transportation of perishable agricultural products, reducing the importance of proximity to market centers

Variability in Transportation Cost Sensitivity

• The impact of transportation costs on agricultural location decisions can vary depending on the type of agricultural product
• High-value and perishable products (fresh fruits, cut flowers) are more sensitive to transportation costs than low-value and non-perishable products (grains, cotton)
• Agricultural products with a high weight-to-value ratio (hay, timber) are more affected by transportation costs than those with a low weight-to-value ratio (spices, medicinal herbs)

Government Influence on Agricultural Land Use

Economic Incentives and Constraints

• Agricultural subsidies and price supports can encourage the production of certain crops or livestock (corn, soybeans), leading to changes in the spatial distribution of agricultural land use
• Land use regulations, such as zoning laws and environmental protection policies, can restrict the types of agricultural activities that can be carried out in certain areas (wetland preservation, urban growth boundaries)
• International trade policies, such as tariffs and quotas, can affect the profitability of different agricultural products and lead to changes in the spatial distribution of agricultural land use (sugar, dairy)

Infrastructure Investments and Rural Development

• Government investments in irrigation systems, drainage networks, and other agricultural infrastructure can open up new areas for agricultural production and alter the spatial distribution of agricultural land use (California's Central Valley, Egypt's Nile Delta)
• Policies aimed at promoting rural development and reducing regional inequalities can lead to changes in the spatial distribution of agricultural land use by encouraging the growth of new agricultural industries in disadvantaged areas (agritourism, organic farming)
• Extension services and agricultural research programs can help farmers adopt new technologies and practices, leading to changes in agricultural land use patterns (precision agriculture, conservation tillage)