In which scenario is monoculture most likely to increase pest populations?

Monoculture, or the practice of continuously planting the same crop over consecutive seasons, creates an environment that is particularly conducive to the proliferation of pest populations. This occurs for several reasons.

Firstly, when the same crop is planted year after year, pests that specialize in that crop can establish and maintain larger populations, as they have a consistent food source with no variability in their habitat. This lack of diversity means that there are fewer natural predators and competitors to keep the pest populations in check.

Secondly, the pests can adapt and become more resilient in a monoculture setting. Over time, without crop rotation or diversity, certain pest species may evolve to become more effective in exploiting the vulnerabilities of the single crop being grown. This can lead to increased pest pressure, as chemical controls may become less effective against pest populations that have adapted.

In contrast, practices like frequent crop rotation, diverse planting, and high crop diversity introduce variability in the environment, making it less favorable for specific pest populations to thrive. These practices disrupt the life cycles of pests and can help manage pest numbers naturally. Thus, continuous planting of the same crop significantly raises the risk of pest outbreaks compared to these other strategies.