Von Thünen Model Agricultural Land Use SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Human Geography – People, Place, and Culture, DeBlij, et al. pg. 340-341. Internet resources for pictures and images.

Johann Heinrich vonThünen In the 1800s he experienced the Second Agricultural Revolution firsthand: he farmed an estate not far from the town of Rostock in northeast Germany. Studying the SPATIAL PATTERNS, he noted that one commodity or crop gave way to another in succession as one moved away from Rostock…

Johann Heinrich vonThünen …He also noted that this change in agricultural production occurred without any visible change in the soil or climate or terrain (shape of land). When he mapped the PATTERN, he found that each town or market center was surrounded by a set of more-or-less concentric rings within which particular commodities or crops dominated. ..

Von Thünen Model …Nearest the town, farmers produced commodities that were PERISHABLE and commanded HIGH PRICES, such a dairy products and strawberries…

Von Thünen Model …In the next ring the crops were less perishable and bulkier, including wheat and other grains. Still farther out, livestock raising began to replace field grains. The reason the forest is listed in his model is because he lived in a time when the forest provided wood for fuel and building.

Johann Heinrich vonThünen When von Thünen created this model he had to make certain assumptions: 1. The terrain was flat 2. Soils and environmental conditions were the same everywhere. 3. No barriers to transportation to market. Under such circumstances, he reasoned, transport costs would govern the use of land. He reasoned that the greater distance to market, the higher the transport costs that had to added to the cost of producing a crop or commodity. At a given distance to market, then, it would become unprofitable to produce high-cost, perishable commodities – and market gardens would give way to field crops such as grains and potatoes. Still farther away, livestock raising would replace field agriculture.

Application Today This model is the FIRST effort to analyze the spatial character of economic activity. Differences in climate type and soil quality weigh heavily on the kinds of goods produced in a place. Farmers live in the village and will improve the land closest to the village making it fertile and productive. Improvements in transportation allow even perishable goods to be shipped from outer areas.