Agricultural Landscapes of Spain

Atlantic Agricultural Landscape

The climate is rainy oceanic with mild temperatures, which favors the presence of grasslands and deciduous forests.

Agriculture occupies a small area, now largely shifted from polyculture oriented towards consumption, although this traditional system remains in some interior areas of Galicia. Monoculture occupies more surface area, primarily with corn for fodder.

In Cantabria and Asturias, the focus is on livestock rearing, particularly dairy cattle. In Galicia, production is primarily intended for beef cattle.

The structure is smallholder farming, especially in Galicia, where farmers have small, scattered plots. For this reason, plot concentration is common. Farms are small in both area and number of cattle heads.

This dedication to livestock explains why the rural population lives in scattered hamlets or villages.

Interior Agricultural Landscapes

The climate is continental-edge, with high summer temperatures and cold winters where frost is frequent. The lack of rainfall in almost all these areas limits the type of agriculture and forest growth.

Agriculture in interior lands commonly practices cereal crop rotation, typically biennial or triennial. Farming is highly mechanized, using chemical fertilizers and quality seeds. Along riversides, farms capture water for occasional cereal irrigation.

In dry areas, cattle pastures dominate, utilizing the mountains.

The structure of agricultural land is very fragmented (parcelled), with a dense network of roads centered in large villages.

The population is sparse, predominantly aging due to high rural exodus.

Mediterranean Agricultural Landscape

It occupies the Mediterranean littoral and pre-littoral areas, including the Ebro and Guadalquivir depressions.

Most sites are rugged, but there are sedimentary coastal plains and valleys with fertile soils. Areas with trees have degraded into shrubland.

The climate is characterized by scarce rainfall. Drought occurs during summer when temperatures are higher. These conditions explain the prevalence of dry farming: crops include cereals, and the Mediterranean trilogy of vineyards and olives.

In areas of the Mediterranean with milder temperatures, sophisticated irrigated agriculture is practiced, using various irrigation techniques and pesticides.

Crops include:

• Vegetables (e.g., in Andalusia)
• Citrus fruits (e.g., in Castellón)
• Etc.

Livestock: Cattle and goats are common in dry areas. Intensive farming is practiced for cattle and pigs.

Agricultural Structure: Medium-sized dry farms dominate, along with large estates throughout Andalusia. The population is large and tends to be concentrated in large towns, although scattered settlements also exist.

Mountain Agricultural Landscape

It is located at low and medium altitudes in the northern peninsula and at high altitudes in the south.