What is a potential disadvantage of using monoculture in farming?

Monoculture, the agricultural practice of growing a single crop species in a given area, presents several significant disadvantages, one of which is the depletion of soil nutrients along with an increase in pest infestations. When the same crop is planted repeatedly, it tends to exhaust specific nutrients that the crop uses heavily, leading to soil degradation over time. Since the soil lacks diversity in nutrient replenishment from different crop types, this can result in reduced soil fertility and increased reliance on chemical fertilizers to sustain crop yields.

Additionally, monoculture creates an environment that can favor specific pests and diseases, as these organisms become highly adapted to the single crop being cultivated. The uniformity of plants provides a consistent food source for pests, leading to population outbreaks that can rapidly compromise crop health. Farmers may find themselves needing to apply more pesticides to control these infestations, which can heighten production costs and contribute to environmental issues.

In contrast, practices such as crop rotation, which involves alternating the types of crops grown in a particular field across seasons, can improve soil health and decrease pest populations by disrupting their life cycles. Therefore, the potential disadvantages associated with monoculture underscore its risks in sustainable agricultural practices.