Journal article

Publication year: 2000

Pages: 493-506

Journal: Berichte über Landwirtschaft

Volume number: 78

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 0005-9080

Publisher: Kohlhammer

Abstract: 

The establishment of environmentally compatible farming in central Europe is a political goal and an innovative undertaking for practical agriculturalists. From the point of view of crop cultivation the main aspects are:

- effective broad-coverage land and stock management

- stable yields for reduced input of capital and means of production

- support measures tailored to environmentally relevant goals and the available farmland.

The preconditions for transition to environmentally compatible farming in Germany differ from those in Hungary, but are typical of farm production in central Europe. Thus, for example, the material and technical potential for establishing effective land and stock management is better in Germany than in Hungary. However, many farmers are not taking full advantage of it because of the additional expense involved. In both countries, reductions in livestock holdings were accompanied by reductions in arable feed cropping and organic fertilisation. Taking this and the generally stable supply of nutrients from mineral fertilisation into account, the rise in yields in Germany, despite the lower profits, can be seen as positive.

In Hungary, the ecological conditions favour agricultural production. A close relationship exists at the national level between nutrient supply and yield development. The drop in the use of manure post 1990 had a negative effect on the production of wheat and maize. The negative nutrient balances of recent years are posing a threat to soil fertility, and have resulted in a drop in the nutrient contents available to crops.

Harvard Citation style: Köppen, D. and Loch, J. (2000) Aspects of environmentally compatible farming in Germany and Hungary, Berichte über Landwirtschaft, 78(3), pp. 493-506

APA Citation style: Köppen, D., & Loch, J. (2000). Aspects of environmentally compatible farming in Germany and Hungary. Berichte über Landwirtschaft. 78(3), 493-506.