The aim of this research was to evaluate and describe agricultural land handicapped
by steep slope and to assess agricultural experts’ attitude towards impact of terrain
factor on the generic farming activity. This paper analyses differences and similarities
between Lithuanian rural elderships affected by steep slope constraint (i.e. = 7°
(15%) slope gradient) with the subsequent evaluation in selected agronomical
variables. In total 514 rural elderships were classified into five groups by percentage
of agricultural land with steep slope. The assessment of agricultural variables by
steep slope groups revealed that the best developed are elderships (60.12%) falling
into Group I, where mean value of area under steep slope was 0.32%. Very
unfavourable conditions, especially for intensive farming, were identified in Group V
(7.59% elderships), where the topographical character has a dominantly hilly terrain.
Agricultural experts’ (scientists) for survey was used assessing the respondents
attitude (6-point Likert Scale) towards terrain impact on the items related to generic
farming sector, i.e., “Agricultural development”, “Farming systems use”, “Land
utilization possibilities” and “Soil erosion”. The surveyed experts considered that
terrain is a factor influencing land-use decisions and the item “Land utilization
possibilities” has assumed the highest mean score (3.77). Therefore it should be a
good overview of agricultural land with steep slope, as one of the most important
natural agri-environmental constraint affecting generic farming possibilities in
Lithuania.