Crop diversity and stability of revenue on farms in Central Europe : an analysis of big data from a comprehensive agricultural census in Bavaria

URN to cite this document: urn:nbn:de:bvb:703-epub-4252-2

Title data

Weigel, Robert ; Koellner, Thomas ; Poppenborg, Patrick ; Bogner, Christina:
Crop diversity and stability of revenue on farms in Central Europe : an analysis of big data from a comprehensive agricultural census in Bavaria.
In: PLOS ONE. Vol. 13 (19 November 2018) Issue 11 . - No. e0207454.
ISSN 1932-6203
DOI der Verlagsversion: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207454

	Format: PDF Name: journal.pone.0207454.pdf Version: Published Version Available under License Creative Commons BY 4.0: Attribution
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Abstract

Diversity of agricultural landscapes is important to maintain the provision of ecosystem services. In face of decreasing support measures for agricultural markets in the European Union, diversified crop portfolios could also offer a possibility to stabilize revenue at farm level (portfolio effect). We hypothesize that (i) diversity of crop portfolios changes along spatial gradients in the study area (Bavaria, Germany), (ii) the composition of portfolios depends on farm parameters, and (iii) more diverse portfolios on arable land provide higher revenue stability. We analysed agricultural census data comprising all farms (N = 105 314) in the study area and identified 26 typical crop portfolios. We show that portfolio composition is related to farm characteristics (whole farm revenue, farm type, farm size) and location. Currently, diversification of crop portfolios fails to promote stability of portfolio revenue in the study area, where policy still indirectly influences market prices of energy crops. We conclude that the portfolio effect as a natural insurance was less important in recent years due to high market prices for specific crops. This low need for natural insurances probably favoured simplified portfolios leading to decreased agricultural diversity.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Keywords:	Central Europe: Bavaria; agricultur; agricultural census
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 550 Earth sciences, geology
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Chair Ecological Modelling Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Professor Ecological Services > Professor Ecological Services - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Köllner Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Professor Ecological Services
Language:	English
Originates at UBT:	Yes
URN:	urn:nbn:de:bvb:703-epub-4252-2
Date Deposited:	01 Mar 2019 11:04
Last Modified:	10 Jul 2020 09:23
URI:	https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/4252

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