A new land evaluation in Hungary based on ecological potential

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Góczán, László¹

Note: [1] László Góczán (D. Sc. in Geography) graduated in biology and geography from Budapest University and post-graduated in soil science from the Institute of Agrochemistry and Soil Science of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Some of his books have been published on themes of geography of soil, agroecogeography and land evaluation. At present he works as a scientific advisor for the Geographical Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Abstract: The new Hungarian land evaluation system includes three exercises. The ecological evaluation of agricultural habitats is based on properties relief, agroclimate, soils, water availability and type of parent material. The economic land evaluation, giving rise to the calculation of a price of land, involves the application of a Cobb-Douglas-type production function. The land suitability of agricultural habitats relates initially to grid plots of a size of 25 hectares each. The agroecological potential of such plots is compared with the respective demands of the six most important crops of Hungary. An adequate grouping of plots allows for the delineation of agroecological microregions.

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-1988-5308

Journal: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 279-287, 1988