Comparing indicators of intensive agriculture from different statistical source

The aim of this paper is to compare spatial patterns of two indicators (called INAG and INT), both describing in rural land use intensification processes at different geographical and time scales. We have demonstrated that the spatial pattern of the simplified indicator (INT) is very similar to that of the more complex one (INAG), suggesting that INT can be used as a proxy indicator for land use by agriculture intensification. The indicator INT is positively correlated with the indicator INAG on the NUT-2 level and on all chosen altimetric zones in two different years of study, 1990 and 2000. A comparison between the INT indicator and other economic indicators describing agriculture intensification processes shows that INT significantly increases if cultivated area, mechanisation and irrigation levels, as well as population density, increase. Monitoring intensification processes by INT has the advantage of frequent updating, allowing time series analysis, as well as large availability through statistical sources at both regional and local scales.