Von Thunen Model

Presented by John Leonard O. Serrano

Plan 201-B
Prof. Roque Magno
Johann Heinrich von Thunen (1983-1850), a German economist and estate
owner of the early 19th century, developed a theory of agricultural location.

• Created before highways, railroads, factories, etc.

• Model is based on an econometric analysis of his estates in
Mecklenburg, near Rostock in Germany.
• Noticed a pattern of 4 rings developed around the central city.–Each
ring was a different type of agriculture.
• Data used in explaining his theory were obtained by him through
practical experience.
• “A Portion of Each Crop is Eaten By the Wheels!”-von Thunen.
Germany, 1820’s.
Two basic models:
• The intensity of production of a particular crop declines with the distance
from the market.
• The type of land use will vary with the distance from the market.
Hierarchy of agricultural crops

1. Truck farming (fruits and vegetables)

2. Dairying
3. Mixed crop and livestock farming (corn belt agriculture)
4. Wheat farming
5. Ranching (yearlings often sold to feedlots of mixed crop and livestock farming)
Von Thunen’s theory is based on certain assumptions.

1. There is an ‘isolated state’ (as von Thunen called his model economy), consisting of 1 market city and its
agricultural hinterland.
2. This city is the market for surplus products from the hinterland and receives products from no other areas.
3. The hinterland ships its surpluses to no other market except the city.
4. There is a homogeneous physical environment, including a uniform plain around the city.
5. The hinterland is inhabited by farmers who wish to maximise their profits, and who adjust automatically to
the market’s demands.
6. There is only one mode of transport – the horse and wagon (as this was 1826).
7. Transportation costs are directly proportional to distance, and are borne entirely by the farmers, who ship
all produce in a fresh state.
Von Thunen’s model examines the location of several crops in relation to the market.

The location of crops, according to him, is determined by:

(i) The market prices,
(ii) Transport costs, and
(iii) The yield per hectare.
Von Thunen’s Model of Land Use
Ring 1 (Zone 1): Diary Farming/ Commercial Gardening
• Easily Perishable goods
• Located too far, goods go bad, no profit.

Ring 2 (Zone 2): Forest ( Building Material / Fuel)

• Not perishable but very heavy.

Ring 3 (Zone 3): Extensive Crops (Grains)

• Not as heavy as wood, can be stored for longer
period of time

Ring 4 (Zone 4): Livestock

• Needs a lot of land
• Perishable one slaughtered, but animal can transport

Central City / City Market
(Market for Agricultural produce)
Modified Von Thunen’s Model of Land Use
ZONE I: The first ring in the Von Thunen model produces dairy
products, fruits, veggies, and flowers. Land costs in the first ring
around the city are high, but so are sale prices for these
products. All of these products spoil and require quick transport to
market
ZONEII: Wood is grown in the second ring because it requires
lots of land and the land must be cheaper. The forests are located
in the second ring because back when Von Thunen wrote this
model, Germany was heating primarily with wood.
ZONE III: Field crops like cereal grains are in the 3rd ring because
they require vast amounts of land and are not nearly as
expensive to transport as wood or fragile fruits and veggies. Also,
farmers need land that they can afford to leave fallow for 1 out of
every three years.
A. Crop Farming without fallow
B. Crop Farming, fallow and pasture
ZONE IV: Ranching and livestock requires huge amounts of
cheap land that doesn’t necessarily have to be good for anything
except growing grass.
A. Three-Field farming
B. Extensive Livestock Farming
References:
• http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/geography/theories-of-agriculture-locational-theories-of-agriculture/25336
• https://docplayer.net/46522821-Geographic-models-demographic-transition-model.html
• https://greenhorns.org/2014/08/08/the-von-thunen-model-a-very-cool-lesson-in-agricultural-geography
Von Thünen s model was created before
industrialization and is based on the following
limiting assumptions:
• The city is located centrally within an "Isolated State" which is self-sufficient and
has no external influences.
• The Isolated State is surrounded by an unoccupied wilderness.
• The land of the State is completely flat and has no rivers or mountains to
interrupt the terrain.
• The soil quality and climate are consistent throughout the State.
• Farmers in the Isolated State transport their own goods to market via oxcart,
across land, directly to the central city. Therefore, there are no roads. Farmers
act to maximize profits.