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Maintenance of the agricultural landscape, preservation of biodiversity and landscape aesthetics are part of a multifunctional agriculture. However, little is known about the influence of single agricultural landscape elements in different seasonal stages on landscape aesthetics. In a Swisswide photo survey, the aesthetic preferences of Swiss residents for typical agricultural landscape elements in the Swiss lowlands were investigated. Photographs of seven ecological compensation areas (ECAs) and seven other elements (crops, high-intensity meadows and pastures) were selected. Each element was presented in four to six different seasonal stages, each on single paper-based questionnaire pages to allow a random selection of elements and seasonal stages. In addition, each element was replicated in each seasonal stage. Four randomly selected elements were sent to each study participant for aesthetic valuation (preference rating scores). Overall, ECAs received higher preference ratings than crops or high-intensity grassland. Most preferred were ECAs with a vertical structure, i.e. trees and bushes, and species-rich elements. In addition, the seasonal stage of a landscape element strongly influenced preference ratings. Flowering stages were clearly liked most. Moreover, perceived diversity and naturalness of an element had a strong positive effect on its rating. The results indicate that ECAs, besides their ecological function, are powerful elements to enhance the public's preference for agricultural landscapes. Moreover, the results might be useful for the development and adaptation of quantitative methods to capture the aesthetic value of agricultural regions and might provide a basis for political decisions concerning direct payments for aesthetic services of agriculture. AbstractThe maintenance of cultivated landscapes, the conservation of biodiversity and landscape aesthetics are part of a multifunctional agriculture. However, little is known about the influence of single agricultural landscape elements in different seasonal stages on landscape aesthetics. In a Swiss-wide photo survey we investigated the aesthetic preferences of Swiss residents for different agricultural landscape elements that are typical in the Swiss lowlands.Photographs of seven crops and seven ecological compensation areas (ECAs) were selected.Each element was presented in four to six different seasonal stages on single paper-based questionnaire pages and, in addition, replicated four times. A random selection of four elements was sent to each study participant who had to rank the four in decreasing order of aesthetic value (preference rating scores). Overall, ECAs received higher preference ratings than crops. Most preferred were high-stem fruit trees, hedgerows, and low-intensity pastures, i.e. ECAs with a vertical structure. Study participants characterised ECAs as varied, speciesrich and beautiful. In addition, the seasonal stage of a landscape element strongly influenced preference ratings. Flowering stages of both ECAs and crop...

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