From peasant subsistence to industrial farming: a long-term analysis of structural and functional changes in a Central Russian agricultural landscape

Abstract

Land-system studies often emphasize structural land-cover change while overlooking functional shifts within socio-ecological systems. We address this gap by integrating spatial and socio-metabolic analyses to examine approximately 150 years of agricultural landscape change in Central Russia. Historical maps, satellite imagery, archival records, and contemporary surveys were used to reconstruct land-use change and agroecosystem energy flows. Arable land decreased by only 19%, indicating substantial continuity in the overall land-use structure despite major changes in agroecosystem functioning. The late 19th century biomass-based subsistence operated as a closed-loop system, characterized by high energy efficiency, internal biomass recycling, and a land-use pattern tightly coupled to settlement locations and human labor. In stark contrast, the modern industrialized system is entirely dependent on massive external fossil fuel inputs, has severed internal energy cycles, and exhibits a reduced energy return on investment. Agricultural land use has decoupled from settlements and is now primarily determined by proximity to road infrastructure for machinery access. We conclude that the transition from the subsistence system to the industrialized one, driven by institutional and technological changes, has led to a decline in metabolic efficiency, despite increased yields. Our study underscores the critical importance of complementing spatial analysis with functional energy-flow assessments.

Keywords

Socio-ecological systems / Agricultural landscape / Land-system functioning / EROI / Energy flows / Long-term dynamics / Land-use change

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Funding

Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation(agreement NO. 075-15-2024-554 of 24 April 2024)

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