As a result of this practice, these grain food sources are at risk, and the environment is suffering as well. So why are these food sources at risk in addition to the harm being done to the environment?
Instead of rotating different crops to naturally restore the nutrients and vitamins that are found in the soil, monoculture farming causes the same nutrients to diminish from the ground.
Nitrogen is a key nutrient in crop growth. If you do not rotate between nitrogen-fixing plants and non-nitrogen-fixing plants, the soil will be depleted of this vital nutrient. In order to continue planting a single crop on the same land, these nutrients must be replaced some way which created the need to apply various chemical fertilizers. In addition, these monoculture lands attract weeds and insects , which favor a certain type of plant.
If there were a variety of crops in one field, bugs and weeds might not be so inclined to go near the crops they did not like. However, acres and acres of their crop of choice spells for disaster. For this reason, herbicides and pesticides are often used on top of these fertilizers. Soil that is nutrient deficient can be dry and susceptible to erosion.
In turn, runoff pollution is very prevalent in waterways near monoculture fields. Remember all the herbicides and pesticides we needed to protect these monocultures? Well, they go wherever the run-off water goes. Not only do these chemicals kill the aquatic life in these water systems poor fish!
One particular insect suffering as a consequence of monoculture is the bee. Often bees and other insects are susceptible to the neurotoxins in the pesticides that are used on monoculture crops. In the case of bees, pesticides have been named as the number one cause of bee colony collapse.
There go our crucial pollinators! Humans are at risk of the negative impacts of monocultures as well! By cultivating a single crop only one method of harvesting needs to take place, hence boosting profitability for the farmer. A contrasting method to monoculture is permaculture. Permaculture is effectively a reversal in that it promotes biodiversity and the implantation of a diverse range of crops.
This method of farming intends to ensure the ecosystem remains strong with different plants working together to thrive the land. Permaculture fundamentally aims to avoid having anything from becoming too influential on the farm to the detriment of other assets, be it species of insect or plant. Maintaining a diverse variety of crop species and growing a varied range of crops can save the potential jeopardizing of the entire economy.
A variety of crops will allow crop failures without ruining the entire economy of a farm specializing in a monoculture such as coffee or tobacco.
While monoculture has its place for profitability, it also has significant negative drawbacks with potential to cause irreversible damage to the ecological system. An example of the devastation monocultural farming can cause is the corn blight of which ruined more than 15 percent of corn crops in North America. With the lack of diversity in a monoculture system it can cause a limit to the healthy functions nature can bring to crops and soil.
By directing away from natural elements provided by the ecosystem, monoculture must replicate these to protect the crops and the profit they make. This involves the use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, bactericides. These synthetic chemicals attempt to prevent crop damage from weeds, insects, and bacteria while providing enough nutrients for growth.
There are many negatives surrounding the use of synthetics, particularly for its relationship with nature. Chemicals leave traces on plants intended for consumption and are also regularly overused. Excessive use means that a large quantity of synthetic material is left in the soil after harvest.
As the material is not organic it can cause great harm to the soil. Rather than being processed into organic matter by microorganisms, it will weave its way through soil polluting groundwater supplies. Pollution of groundwater will negatively alter neighboring ecosystems and even those at a great distance from the chemicals. Chemical substances will kill and deplete all manner of plants, and diversity of surrounding ecosystems.
Nature is, however, evolving to combat synthetics which is encouraging farmers to implement new inorganic methods to prevent resistance. This is causing an ever-increasing amount of chemicals to be applied to monoculture crops, which is having a devastating effect on natural ecosystems.
Increasing productivity on approximately 11 percent of the earth's arable landmass, while protecting pastures, grasslands and forests, will help farmers provide adequate food for a growing global population. To ensure success, farmers need to utilize all of the available production practices and technologies to enable efficient and productive agricultural systems that protect the environment.
Question Monocultural agriculture is ecologically destructive and unsustainable. Globally, its activities combine into a carbon footprint larger than the entire world's transport sector, its productivity depending on energy inputs 10 times higher than it outputs, even before the food-miles it uses to distribute those outputs.
Does GMO-based farming in any way alleviate these problems? Submitted by: landbase Environment. Related Resources. Organic Crops. Download pdf , MYTH vs. Download gif , Show More.
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