10 Important Principles of Land Use

This article throws light upon the ten important principles governing land use. Some of the principles are: 1. The Principle of Maximization 2. The Equimarginal Principles 3. The Principle of Diminishing Marginal Rate of Substitution 4. The Principle of Diminishing Marginal Productivity 5. The Principle of Specialization and Comparative Advantage 6. The Principle of First Choice and Others.

Principle # 1. The Principle of Maximization:

The principle of maximization points out that the user of the land tend to maximize his value returns because he is motivated by a desire to make the best utilization of as many resources as possible that are lying at his disposal.

He always tries to use his land to the maximum possible extent subject to the abundance or scarcity of other factors of production e.g. capital, labour, irrigation and other facilities.

For example if a huge amount of capital has accumulated through saving and thrift in a densely populated area where cheap labour and irrigation and other facilities are available but only a small fraction of land is available for agricultural use, then this small area would be intensively cultivated.

Consequently the yield per hectare would be very high. On the other hand, much land may be available in a sparsely populated undeveloped area where capital, labour and irrigation are severely restricted; the land would be extensively cultivated. Thus under both the condition, the user of land attempts to maximize his value return.

Principle # 2. The Equimarginal Principles:

Every piece of land has potentialities for many kinds of use; e.g. the land may be utilized for growing jute, paddy or ladies finger near Calcutta. Inputs are assigned to every kind of use in proportion to return expected from them. As ladies finger fetches good return from Calcutta market, so more input is assigned to it. The transfer of input from one use to another shall equal the loss in return from the rest of uses.

Principle # 3. The Principle of Diminishing Marginal Rate of Substitution:

The increasing amount of production and consumption, the increment of satisfaction for any type of land use decreases. It is valid when two goods are substituted for each other. The smaller quantities of greater good are necessary to compensate for the substitution of another goods.

As for example the use of the land near Calcutta for production of ladies finger is less in terms of production of rice as the farmer substitutes the former for the later because the former is a perishable commodity. Every-day, it is to be harvested and disposed off.

Principle # 4. The Principle of Diminishing Marginal Productivity:

According to Malthus, the rate of increase in food production lags behind the rate of increase in population. Usually it is not possible to get the same proportion of return consistently with the increasing rate of substitution since the cost of labour and inputs also increases. Rate of substitution since the cost of labour and inputs also increases.

Principle # 5. The Principle of Specialization and Comparative Advantage:

No crop can be grown in all the agro-climatic zones of India with the same degree of return. For example cotton is being grown most profitably in black soils under semiarid climate of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Western parts of Madhya Pradesh and smaller areas in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

It cannot be profitably grown in the alluvial or other soils under the humid climate prevailing in the north eastern India and the eastern India; otherwise the cotton crop would suffer from severe attack on insect paste.

Measures adopted to control insect pests would increase the cost of production per hectare and reduce the return per hectare. Jute is most profitable grown in the alluvial soils of West Bengal, Assam and Bihar under the humid climate.

Principle # 6. The Principle of First Choice:

Usually a limited amount of land is available for growing specific crops. For example vegetables are cultivated in well drained soils of medium texture located on a little elevated ground. Paddy is grown on lowland soils of heavier texture. Ladies finger may be grown on lowland soils of heavier texture because it can tolerate waterlogging to some extent as has been observed near Calcutta.

Principle # 7. The Principle of Mapping and Search for are Alternative Better Utilization of the Land:

Land use maps are produce through field to field survey and analyzed.

As the land is the base of all types of human decisions, so the search for its alternative utilization involves:

(a) The land is the free gift of the nature to the man for the sustenance of life.

(b) The productive capacity of each land must be increased.

(c) Each land have fixed boundary according to human needs and physical resistance factor of the nature.

(d) Each land has owner under certain customary rights.

(e) Each piece of land has some utility e.g. agriculture industry, recreation etc.

(f) Each piece of land used by the man has some economic rent.

(g) Land use is the product of the demand set by the “people of any race, religion and income.

(h) Hence with the concept of demand and supply under certain input- output ratio, there is competition between different types of land use. This automatically paves the way for better alternative use of land.

Principle # 8. Optimization of the Quality of the Land use in Relation to the Environment:

Apple can be grown in the temperate climate of Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. Banana is grown in cool humid climate of eastern, southern and western India. These fruits should be grown under the climatic condition most suitable to them in order to attain their maximum production.

Principle # 9. Fixation of Cropping System around Human Habitation for Least Effort and Less Cost Travel:

Land near big cities are utilized for growing vegetable if irrigation water is available because they can be conveniently disposed of in the city market.

Principle # 10. Conservation of the Land for the Future Judicious Use:

Conservation is the reduction in the process of the rate of loss of land productivity i.e. the land must be protected from the hazards of erosion, waterlogging and salinity and alkalinity.

Crops must be protected from the attacks of insect pests and diseases. Requisite amounts of manures and fertilizers should be applied to fields in order to build up the soil fertility.

Crops should be irrigated and inter-cultured whenever necessary. Attempts should be made to consolidate the fragmented land holdings to one place if it is possible.