szántóföldekben

Szántóföldekben is a Hungarian term that refers to arable land used for agricultural purposes. The word is formed from “szántó,” meaning plow, and “földök,” meaning fields, and is typically used in discussions of land use planning, rural development and environmental regulation.

In the Hungarian legal framework, szántóföldeknek (arable fields) are defined as the portion of farmlands that are cultivated for crops and have undergone regular plowing or similar tillage. The classification is important for tax, subsidy, and environmental assessments, as well as for the allocation of conservation or restoration measures such as the maintenance of soil fertility, weed and pest management, and protection of water quality.

The concept also appears in the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy, where the designation of arable land influences the distribution of agri‑environmental payments and the implementation of stewardship schemes. In the statistical and cadastral context, szántóföldeket are recorded in the land registry and are differentiated from other categories such as orchards, vineyards, pastures, and fallow fields. The term is also used in ecological research studying the dynamics of crop rotation, soil structure, and biodiversity on cultivated landscapes.

Historically, the productivity of szántóföldek has shaped Hungary’s agricultural output. After land reforms of the mid‑20th century, many units of szántóföldök were aggregated or redistributed, affecting both the intensity of cultivation and agricultural mechanisation. Today, sustainable management of szántóföldeket is a critical component of Hungary’s strategy to meet climate‑change mitigation, soil‑health, and rural‑economic objectives.