UntIl recently, arable productIOn systems m the Netherlands were solely based on theIr productIOn functIOn, whIle ecologIcal and sOCIetal functIOns were not or hardly taken mto account. However, the Netherlands IS a small and densely populated country that reqUIres a well-planned management ofthe landscape If more functIOns are to be fulfrlled. In an attempt to utlhze the avaIlable space m a more effiCIent way, we desrgned Dutch arable productIOn systems wIth a productIOn, an ecologIcal and a sOCIetal functIOn, and tested systems dlffenng m level of bIOdIversIty m long-term field expenments. In thIs artIcle speCIal attentIOn IS paId to systems' sOCIetal functIOn, whICh IS attamed when productIve and blOdlverse systems make the landscape more attractIve than conventIOnal ones. To explam dIfferences m appreCIatIOn of arable productIOn systems as elements ofthe Dutch landscape a study was carned out conslstmg of mtervlews combmed wIth an appraIsal of contrastmg conventIOnal and blOdlverse systems and of field margms on the basIs of colour photographs taken when the crops and the wIld plants flowered. The pIctures mcluded fields wIth rye, barley, cereal-pea and cereal-pea-wlld flower mIXtUres. In addItIOn, pICtures of other arable productIOn systems m the Netherlands were used as a contrastmg reference; these mcluded forage maIZe, tulIP fields and blOdlverse field margms. The photographed systems were evaluated by a group of 30 mtervlewees, usmg the quahtatlve dIalogue method. Each of the respondents was offered the posslblhty to express hIs feelmgs and to explam underlymg thoughts when rankmg and classlfymg the photographed systems. Most respondents appreCIated the presence of wIld flowers, but the farmers amongst them were hesItant as they feared YIeld loss. Barley was preferred to rye. Pea m mIXtUres was not Irked much but was appreCIated more m mIXtUres wIth rye than wIth barley. Also the reference systems provoked mIXed feelmgs. Respondents engaged wIth nature or agrICulture appreCIated bIOdIversIty m fields more than respondents not engaged wIth these sectors.
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