What is a disadvantage of monoculture practices?

Monoculture practices involve growing a single crop species over a large area for consecutive seasons. While this can lead to higher efficiencies and potentially higher yields, one notable disadvantage is the increased risk of disease.

When a single crop species is continuously cultivated, it creates an environment that is particularly susceptible to diseases and pests that target that specific crop. This is because pathogens and pests can thrive when their preferred hosts are abundant and continuously available. A lack of genetic diversity within the crop population means that if a disease were to emerge, it can potentially wipe out a significant portion of the crop with little resistance. Moreover, pests can easily adapt and proliferate when faced with a large, uniform food source, compounding the risk of crop failure.

The other factors, such as yield stability, reduced pest pressure, and enhanced biodiversity, do not align with the challenges presented by monoculture. In contrast to increased risk of disease, these factors reflect some of the benefits of cropping systems that promote diversity and rotation. Thus, the inherent characteristics of monoculture increase its vulnerability to diseases, making disease risk a well-recognized disadvantage in agricultural practices employing this method.