THE ROLE OF WATER IN LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY AND IN CROP PRODUCTION

Abstract

Water is an element of integration and interaction. Through its continuing cycles and re- newal water maintains a finely tuned harmony between local diversity and macroscale co- herence within natural evolution. Even a tentative review of the role of water in landscape ecology and in crop production clearly reveals that the holistic and dynamic character of nature's structure and functioning sharply contrasts and conflicts with the fragmented and static nature of the market induced industrial strategies and technologies. The causes and consequences of these gradually intensifying and accelerating conflicts are first outlined in a conceptual and historical framework then illustrated by indicative examples taken from recent studies on water related planning and policies in Hungary. A move towards reducing and preventing such conflicts seems to require, among many other things, the compilation of broadly conceived analytical studies on major water related prerequisites and consequences of various future scenarios. This can lead to a coherent set of matrices between the valued components of the region's water resources and the human activities affecting water balance and water quality. Problem-based and process-oriented internal and external integration of hydrological sciences - towards which significant contribu- tions have been already made during the last few years - seems to be the key element in the elaboration of such comprehensive informational basis on the role of water in nature and in society.