Land consolidation, cropland use, and vegetation productivity

Abstract

Land consolidation represents a valuable tool for enhancing agricultural productivity. However, there is a notable gap in the literature, with few studies effectively estimating the impact of land consolidation on microlevel crop changes. In our study, we estimated how land consolidation affects cropland use and vegetation productivity in Turkey, specifically examining wheat and corn. To analyze microlevel datasets from various villages, we applied multiple difference-in-differences approaches. Our results show that land consolidation affects farmers' cropland usage, particularly transitioning from wheat to corn. Land consolidation also leads to increased yields for both wheat and corn, although these benefits are not long-lasting and diminish within a few years. Thus, our findings provide valuable insights for land-use policy and planning, highlighting the critical role of land consolidation in determining farmers' cropland uses and its effect on overall productivity [EconLit Citations: Q12, Q15, Q18].