Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profiles

HUNGARY

by

Géza Nagy

1. Introduction
2. Soils and Topography
3. Climate and Agro-ecological Zones
4. Ruminant Livestock Production Systems
5. The Pasture Resource
6. Opportunities for Improvement of Fodder Resources
7. Research and Development Organizations and Personnel
8. References
9. Contacts

Hungary is a small, relatively flat country in the heart of Europe, geographically located in the Carpathian Basin, covering 93 000 sq km. The country is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east, Yugoslavia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Location of Hungary

The total population of the country numbered 10 196 000 at the beginning of 2001 (According to the World Factbook the July 2006 population estimate was 9,981,334 with a -0.25% growth rate). This means that population density of Hungary is 109.6 people per sq km. This figure reflects only minor regional changes, but the centre of the country, Budapest, and its surroundings are much more densely populated than the national average. Hungary is one of the most capital-centred countries in the world. Budapest, located in the northern centre, is the hub of all main roads and railway lines, which run radially toward the capital. This central area also has the strongest economy.

Table 1. Land area by land use categories in Hungary

^a) Gardens in inner areas included

^b) Gardens in inner areas excluded Source: HCSO (2000)

Due to the relatively flat landscape and the control of natural water regimes, which date back to the nineteenth century, a very high proportion (86.4 percent) of the total land area is productive land (Table 1). Of this, agriculture represents 66.5 percent and forestry 19.1 percent. Looking at the distribution of agricultural land, it can be seen that Hungary is an arable, production-centred country. More than half (50.6 percent) of its total area was arable land in 1999. Grasslands represent only 12.3 percent of the total area. This proportion, compared to most European countries, is very low.

Agriculture in the national economy

Hungary had a typical agricultural economy until the last decades of the previous century. Agriculture played a prominent role in employment, family incomes and supplying food for the population. It experienced a big boom between the sixties and eighties. Large farm structures were established and stabilized. Agricultural inputs and outputs were considerably increased. During the same period, one third of the total agricultural output was exported to countries of the so called Eastern Block.

The socio-economic transition has greatly influenced agriculture since 1990. Land privatisation was a key element in this respect. Formerly nationalized land was given back to citizens. New private family farms were established along with elimination of formerly flourishing large farms, co-operatives or state farms. Today, the country has a mixed farm structure, as regards farm sizes. Small family farms with a few hectares of land and big agricultural companies with some thousand hectares of land co-exist. In agricultural outlets, private ownership is dominant, but there are a few large, state owned farms as well, assisting agricultural development on a regional basis.

Some indicators of the influence of the transition period (since 1990) on agriculture:

• agricultural employment declined from about 20 percent to about 6 percent, up to present;
• changing economic conditions reduced farming profitability to a great extent;
• both inputs and outputs were considerably reduced;
• the share of agriculture and food industry decreased in the national economy (Table 2),
• the share of agro-industry in external trade dropped by more than 50 percent (Table 3),
• consumption of the main foodstuffs has undergone unfavourable changes (Table 4).

Table 2. Share of agriculture and food industry in the Hungarian national economy (as a percentage)

Source: HCSO (2000)

Table 3. Share of agricultural and food industry products in total imports and exports (as a percentage)

Source: HCSO (2000)

Table 4. Consumption per capita of main foodstuffs (kg)

In spite of the declining importance of agriculture in Hungary over the last decade, locally, agriculture still may have a very important social mission in rural life. At least half of the population is still involved in agriculture either as full time employment or part time farming for family supply, or to earn extra income.

Arable farming

On arable land, the role of cereals (57.3 percent) dominates (Table 5). Of the cereal crops, maize (26.6 percent), wheat (18.7 percent with rye) and barley (8.0 percent) are the most important. Of the so-called cash crops, sunflower (12.6 percent) and industrial crops, e.g. fibre plants, tobacco, etc. (5.3 percent) have a relatively high proportion in land use.

Herbage and forage plants (rough and succulent fodders in statistical nomenclature) used to make up about a fifth of arable land use, however this decreased to 8.6 percent by 1999. Of these plants, clover (5 percent) and silage (and green) maize (3.3 percent) were the most important crops.

Crops are grown at a relatively high technical level. For some crops and in years with favourable weather, average yields per hectare may be comparable with those of leading European countries (Table 6). The development of crop production is hindered by very limited financial resources for higher inputs. For example the average use of fertilizers on arable land is about 50-60 kg ha^-1, which is much below the optimum use even under sustainable agricultural production conditions.

Table 5. Structure of sown area on arable land (percentage)

^a) Millet, sorghum and buckwheat are excluded
^b)Including durum wheat
^c) Sugar beet and oil-seeds are excluded
^d) Hungarian red paprika is excluded from 1996

Source: HCSO (2000)

Table 6. Average yield of some main crops (in kg ha^-l)

Source: HCSO (2000)

Hungarian grasslands are grown under different soil conditions. The agro-ecopotential survey, which was carried out in the 1980s, classified 32 different soil types under grasslands. According to the generic soil classification used in Hungary, these soil types are grouped into six main types (Table 7).

*: productivity with adequate management
Source: Nagy and Vinczeffy (1995)

Grassland scientists agree that grasslands in Hungary are growing under marginal soil conditions. Chernozem soils may be one exception, but on these soils uncontrolled water regimes explain the marginal conditions. These marginal soil conditions are not surprising. The expansion of arable cropping led to the ploughing-up of grasslands on the most fertile soils. Presently, there are no grasslands on soils suitable for arable cropping. Earlier investigations on some native pastures in Hungary listed many unfavourable soil traits for grassland production: low nutrient content (mainly N), poor texture and drainage, poor water management, blocked soil aeration, high salt content (especially Na), low microbial activity, etc. (Nagy, 1988).

Topography

The country has mostly plains; mountains can be found only in the middle of Transdanubia and in the northern part of East Hungary (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Topography of Hungary

Table 8. Topography of Hungarian grasslands

Source: Agro-ecopotential Survey (Láng et. al., 1983)

Located in the northern hemisphere and far from the influence of the large oceans, Hungary has a temperate continental climate, with large differences between summer and winter seasons. Although Hungary is a relatively small country, ecological conditions are very diverse. The agro-economic potential survey of the Hungarian Scientific Academy (Láng et al., 1983) has distinguished 35 ecological regions in the country. Studies on the existing ecological conditions in the given regions has led to the yield potential mapping of Hungarian grasslands on a national scale.

For grassland production, light or radiation, temperature and water relationships (soil moisture) are the three cardinal climatic factors affecting vegetative development and flowering of grassland species. Hungary has a substantial global radiation. The average energy input by radiation onto the surface is 4430 MJ m^-2 year^-1, which is a vast resource for plant production (Table 9). This relatively high radiation is due to the long photoperiod, which comprises 2050 hours year^-1. In Hungary, the average annual daily temperature is 10⁰ C, and for the growing season is 17.5 °C. In general, the average temperature is slightly higher than the optimum for grassland production, especially in mid-season. The temperatures which determine the growing season show an unbalanced annual pattern due to the continental-type climate. For example, the spring temperature accumulation, which controls early growing is extremely changeable between years. In an experiment between 1980 and 1982 we measured the temperature accumulation (T-Sum) aimed at timing spring N application and found a four-week difference between the earliest and latest years (Nagy, 1984).

The most variable element of the Hungarian climate is precipitation. Average annual precipitation is around 600 mm, but differences between years and the seasonal distribution are extreme. For example, looking at figures from Debrecen, the minimum and maximum annual precipitation between years 1900 and 1950 were 342 mm and 874 mm, respectively.

The seasonal distribution is presented in Figure 3. It is seen that July rainfall may be close to nil or up to 150 mm. This provides an unpredictable water supply for the vegetation and makes summer grass growth vulnerable. This vulnerability is also explained by the difference between annual precipitation and annual evapotranspiration (Figure 4). It is well known that in mid season the potential evapotranspiration is high and the precipitation does not meet it, and so there is shortage of soil moisture for grass growth. If it is severe and long lasting, grass growth stops, shoots may dry up and grasslands are "burnt" which is a typical summer landscape in the Plains.

Table 9. Average and maximum-minimum values of some climatic factors in Hungary

^*Data for Debrecen

Source: Climate Atlas of Hungary (1968)

Figure 3. Seasonal pattern of minimum, maximum and average annual rainfall,
Debrecen, 1900-1950.

Source: Climate Atlas of Hungary (1968)

Figure 4. Seasonal pattern of average annual rainfall (R) and potential evapotranspiration (PET) Debrecen, 1900-1950.

Source: Climate Atlas of Hungary (1968)

Grassland research was focused earlier on the relationship between temperature and water supply. Nagy (1979) after lysimeter experiments, and Vinczeffy (1985) after detailed analysis of the effect of climatic elements on grass growth in a long-term fertilization experiment concluded that optimum ratio of precipitation and temperature is 0.20-0.25 mm ⁰C^-1. It means that grass growth is optimal if at least 0.20 mm soil moisture is available for each ⁰C temperature. As "T-Sum" in Hungary is 3670 ⁰C in a year, 734 mm annual rainfall should be needed as minimum for optimal grass growth. Comparing this to the annual rainfall (600 mm), there is a deficit of water of 134 mm on average throughout the year.

A schematic pattern of yield potential of grassland is shown in Figure 5. The greatest yield potential could be calculated according to the photosynthetically active radiation. This potential is greatly reduced by the temperature which exceeds the threshold for plant growing only in the growing season. Due to the relative shortage of water the temperature-based yield potential is reduced further. In this respect, it has to be mentioned that not only the annual precipitation, but its seasonal distribution is a real constraint for the temperature-based yield potential. Under natural conditions soil traits do limit yields as well, as Hungarian grasslands have remained under marginal soil conditions. The average dry matter (DM) yield of natural grasslands in Hungary is about 1.5 t ha^-1 which reflects the poor ecological conditions.

Figure 5. Schematic yield potential of grasslands according to climatic factors, soil conditions and production inputs (in Hungary)

Source:Nagy and Vinczeffy (1995)

On cultivated grasslands, some of the limiting factors for yield potential may be reduced or eliminated. With increasing inputs yield potential may be increased to high levels. In a recent study (Nagy and Vinczeffy, 1995) on the yield potential of Hungarian grasslands, a detailed analysis of temperature, water relations, topography, soil conditions and the technical level of farming have been considered for the 35 agro-ecological regions. Based on the temperature and water relations, the yield potential of grassland in Hungary under intensive management would be 16.41 t DM ha^-1 (Table 10). The topography reduces this potential by 16.6 percent, as the average slope percent is 8.3 percent on the grasslands and there is a 2 percent yield decrease per 1 percent slope. If we look at the relative soil fertility as well (based on the regional soil conditions, it is 82 percent compared to best chernozem soil), the yield potential is reduced to 11.53 t DM ha^-1. At different technical levels of farming (80 percent or 60 percent) achievable yields in practice are 9.22 or 6.90 t DM ha^-1, respectively.

Table 10 Yield potential (t DM ha^-1) of Hungarian grasslands based on ecological factors and levels of farming

Source: Nagy and Vinczeffy (1995)

Livestock husbandry

While the ruminant sector (cattle and sheep ) has great historical traditions in Hungarian agriculture, monogastric livestock farming was strengthened in the agricultural boom between 1960-1985. At the end of this period, crop production and livestock husbandry both enjoyed an equal share of the total agricultural output.

The socio-economic transition period has had its negative effects on the number of animals in the country (Table 11).

Table 11. Livestock in Hungary 1990-2005 (‘000 head)

Source: FAOSTAT, 2006; n.r. = no record

Each animal species had lower numbers in 1999 than ten years previously, e.g. ruminant livestock decreased by 40 percent on average in the period 1990-1999 (Figure 6), although the rate of decline has eased and sheep numbers have increased again so that in 2005 numbers are back to those of pre-1994!

Figure 6. Change of ruminant livestock over the past 10 years 1990 = 100%

Source: after HCSO (2000)

Systems of ruminant livestock husbandry differ according to animal and the purpose of farming. In dairying, intensive indoor farming is prevalent. Large farms (many hundreds or even more than a thousand head in a single unit) base milk production on arable forages: maize silage, clover, hay and grain supplements. Beef production (fattening calves of dairy cattle) is practiced in the same way and with the same forages. The number of cattle in Hungary in 2004 was about 739,000 and sheep 1,296,000 (numbers have increased since 1998). Their feeding is based on grasslands, which means mostly extensive grazing throughout the season.

Sheep farming is based on grassland. Flocks of ewes are grazed in the grazing season and grass hay is a very important winter feed for them. Lambing is timed for spring at the time of very good grass availability. Weaned lambs are exported to EU countries, mainly Italy. Lamb fattening for slaughter means more intensive farming: indoor keeping based on arable forages and grain supplements as for dairy production and beef fattening.

Table 12 contains data on meat and milk production and various live animal and meat and milk imports and exports over the period 1996-2005. Live cattle, pig and sheep exports are considerable as are meat and milk product exports.

Table 12. Hungary: meat and milk production and import/export data 1996-2005, FAOSTAT (2006)

*Cow, sheep and goat milk
n.r. = no record

Traditionally, Hungarian grasslands were classified at registration according to type of use, namely pastures (exclusively grazed), meadows (exclusively cut for hay) and the so-called "cut grasslands"(primary growth cut, then grazed in the season). However, this terminology stopped being used about 15 years ago, and since then only the term "grassland" has been used in registration.

The regional distribution of grasslands is uneven among the various geographical regions (see Table 13). The amount of grassland is less than the national average in the western regions and around the capital, Budapest, and higher than average in the eastern parts where there is also an increase from south to north.

The size and shape of grassland "fields" varies according to the region. In the western parts of Hungary, where the land surface is generally undulating, the average size of grassland fields is generally small. In northern areas bigger fields occur on slopes, with smaller grass areas in the valleys. In eastern areas, on the great Hungarian Plain, the surface is flat and grassland fields are much bigger (Nagy and Peto, 1998). These grasslands make up the Puszta landscape for which Hungary is famous (see Figure 7). On these grasslands pastoralism was the main primary industry and occupation, but with recent developments its role is continually declining.

Table 13. The proportion of grasslands in land use by region

* According to Hungarian Land Registration the categories for different land use systems are:
The Total land area is divided into Productive and Non Productive Land. The Productive part is further divided into 3 categories - Agricultural, Forestry and Reed/fishponds. The Agricultural category is further divided into cropland, gardens, grape and grassland.

Source: HCSO (1996)

Figure 7. A typical scene on the Hortobagy Puszta landscape in Eastern Hungary

[For further information on grasslands and sheep production in Hungary see Website]

Forage resources for animal production

Farming and feeding systems of ruminant production presented in the previous section have already shown that arable forages (maize silage and lucerne hay) comprise the main part of forage resources. Recently average yields of maize for silage are about 25 tons fresh matter per hectare. The structure of annually preserved hay has continuously changed over the last 15 years (Table 14).The role of grasslands in hay production is declining. Its proportion averaged 43.5, 37.9 and 35.5 percent respectively in the last three five year periods. During the same period, the role of clover in hay feeding increased from 46.5 percent up to 56.6 percent. It seems that clover for hay is taking over the role of grassland as forage.

Table 14. Forage resources and their composition over recent five-year periods in Hungary

* Crops suitable for hay making (e.g. grass, clovers, etc.) excluding crops unsuitable for hay (e.g. maize, fodder beet, sorghums etc., preserved as silage)

Source: HCSO (1993, 1999)

The grassland area in the country has continuously declined over the past 20 years, although it had been stable since the middle of the twentieth century. Due to the reduced number of ruminant livestock, quantities of hay produced were reduced as well. Recently, Hungary has produced only half the quantity of grass hay that it produced 20 years ago. The average yield has also been halved in this period of time (Table 15).

Table 15. Area, total production* and average yield per ha of Hungarian grasslands over recent five-year periods.

* expressed in hay equivalent

Source: HCSO (1993, 1999)

Present inputs on grasslands, sward composition and yields

Recent information on grassland inputs indicate that the level of inputs has decreased in the last two decades. The big farms (co-operatives, share holding companies, public limited enterprises), where the level of farming is higher than the national average, supplied negligible inputs to grasslands. They fertilized 5.2 percent of their total grassland area and the average fertilization rate per ha of the total grassland area was only 4 kg ha^-1. Weed and disease control was applied on less than 1 percent of the grasslands (Table 16). At these very low level of inputs farming cannoteliminate unfavourable ecological conditions (e.g. low soil fertility) and cannot greatly increase grass production.

Table 16. Inputs on grasslands (Large joint farms), 1996.

Source: HCSO (1996)

The poor ecological conditions and low level of inputs have been reflected by the sward composition of grasslands. In Hungary seeded grasslands can hardly be found. The semi-natural permanent pastures and meadows have a relatively high number of species, poor quality and low yield potential (Table 17). The most common grasslands are the narrow-leaved Fescues (e.g. Festuca pseudovina, F. ovina), which have good quality, low yield and poor N-response. They may be improved only with overseeding and renovation. These poor swards can only meet the requirements of extensive production systems. However, they have great potential for bio-farming, as many companion plants have medicinal effects and melliferous potential (Vinczeffy, 1997).

Table 17. Hydrological conditions, species number, quality rank and annual yield of native grasslands

Source: After Vinczeffy (1993)

Grasses and clovers on offer for forage production

According to Act of Parliament No. 1996/CXXXI, only plant varieties which have been granted state registration can be cultivated and marketed in Hungary. The variety trials which precede state registration are carried out by the National Institute for Agricultural Quality Control (NIAQC).

A plant variety can be state registered:

• if it can be distinguished from other plant varieties and is uniform and stable;
• if it possesses a variety denomination suitable for registration;
• if, in the cases of varieties of certain plant species listed in the enacting clauses, the variety has satisfactory value for cultivation and use.

Among the Hungarian and foreign varieties tested by the National Institute for Agricultural Quality Control, those considered by the Hungarian Council for the Registration of Agricultural Varieties to be suitable for registration are granted state registration by the Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Development, for a legally-set period, and are thus authorized for cultivation.

In 2001, there were 11 clover and 13 grass species on the Hungarian List of Varieties (Table 18). Most of the species have only a few varieties (1-5) except for white clover and clover with 10 and 32 varieties, respectively.

Compared to this relatively wide variety assortment, grass seed production is very limited in the country. Grass seed producing area under inspection (including turf grass seed production) for 2000 was only 8213.8 ha. From this area 2286.8 ha produced grass seeds of domestic varieties for forage production. 10 grass species were represented in seed production for forages (Table 19).

Table 18. Species and cultivars on offer for forage production in Hungary

Source: NIAQC (2001)

Grasslands and nature conservation

It has been shown in the previous section that, on average, 42 plant species exist in native grasslands. This demonstrates species richness, diversity and the high conservation value of semi-natural grasslands. This is the reason grasslands play a very important role on nature-protected areas. Until recent times, 8 percent of the productive land has been declared protected areas. The land use systems on protected areas are presented in Table 20. It is shown that after forests, grasslands are the second most important land use on protected areas. However, on the most strictly protected areas (national parks, nature-protected lands) the role of grasslands is comparable to that of forests.

Table 20. Land use systems on nature-protected areas (ha)