Agricultural Landscapes of Spain: A Regional Overview
Agricultural Landscapes of Spain
1. The Atlantic Domain
Atlantic Spain, with its mountainous terrain and humid climate, fosters forests and grasslands. These landscapes support livestock and forestry, with livestock being the primary agricultural output. The importance of agriculture varies regionally, from high significance in Galicia to lower in the Basque Country. Land fragmentation is notable, with small properties and direct harvesting prevalent. Diverse agricultural land uses include food crops (potatoes, vegetables), animal feed (maize), and forestry. Beef cattle, raised on grass and fodder, are a specialty. Foreign breeds have been introduced to enhance milk production.
2. The Interior Mediterranean Domain
The Iberian Peninsula’s interior displays diverse landscapes under the influence of the Mediterranean climate. Dryland crops dominate, though irrigation has expanded recently.
The Duero Basin
Characterized by small to medium-sized, fragmented landholdings, this basin traditionally focused on cereal crops (wheat, barley) and sheep farming. Pasture and fallow land have decreased, impacting livestock, which are now often confined or housed. Cereal production is highly mechanized, while irrigated crops like beet, corn, and alfalfa have increased.
The Castilian-La Mancha Area
This area features larger farms and concentrated habitats. Three main land uses stand out on the plains of La Mancha: sheep farming (wool, cheese), cereal crops (declining due to sunflower cultivation), and vineyards.
The Western Peninsula
The fertile siliceous soils of the western peninsula support moderate crop yields even after long rest periods. This allows for integrated farming systems combining pasture, crops, and livestock, often under large estates, a legacy of Spanish landlordism. Richer soils support cereal and industrial crops. Irrigation projects (Plan Badajoz) have introduced new crops like vegetables, rice, and tobacco.
The Ebro Valley
Sharing characteristics with interior Spain, the Ebro Valley presents a double landscape gradient: from mountains to valley depths and from the Ebro’s source to its mouth. This creates a mix of Mediterranean influences.
The upper valley blends Atlantic and Mediterranean features, with farmland, livestock, and forests coexisting. Irrigated areas support horticulture, industrial crops, and vineyards (Rioja wines). Historically, livestock transhumance integrated the valley and slopes. Today, mountain areas are densely populated, while the valley floor is dedicated to agriculture. Barley dominates on poor soils, while intensive irrigation supports traditional crops. Diverse farm sizes coexist, with beet, fodder, vegetables, and intensified orchards and livestock common.
3. The Mediterranean Coast Domain
This coastal strip, characterized by low altitudes, hot summers, mild winters, and low rainfall, extends inland through the Guadalquivir and Ebro depressions. It’s a dynamic agricultural area with coexisting non-agricultural activities and intensive land use.
Catalonia
Catalonia’s limited agricultural land supports intensive, specialized, and market-oriented farming. Rain-fed crops have declined, while stabled livestock and industrial crops (fruit, vegetables, grapes) have grown.
The Levante
This region boasts high-yield irrigation and is home to traditional orchards. Citrus, fruit, and rice are also cultivated. Competition from tourism and industry for land is intense, pushing agriculture to poorer quality areas.
Andalusia
Andalusia exhibits distinct landscape strips from Sierra Morena to the sea:
- Hunting and forestry in the mountains (Sierra Morena), where livestock farming declined after the 1960s, replaced by afforestation and protected areas.
- The Betic countryside, traditionally a grain-producing area, now cultivates sunflower and other industrial crops. Large estates (cortijos) are characteristic.
- The olive landscape forms a continuous strip across the Betic region.
- Interior basins and depressions are important agricultural enclaves with irrigation and diverse traditional crops (cereals, industrial plants like tobacco and beets).
- The coast hosts subtropical crops and extensive greenhouse agriculture (“sea of plastic”).
4. The Canary Islands
Limited agricultural land (around 20%) is found mainly on lowlands and terraced slopes. Water scarcity and favorable temperatures led to export-oriented agriculture (bananas, potatoes, tomatoes), which faces competition from mainland Spain and pressure from real estate and tourism. Goat herding is a traditional activity.