What is a potential consequence of monoculture farming?

• A. Increased crop diversification
• B. Enhanced soil fertility
• C. Soil degradation and increased pest vulnerability
• D. Reduction in crop yield

Answer: (C)

Monoculture farming involves the cultivation of a single crop over a large area for multiple seasons. One significant consequence of this practice is soil degradation and increased vulnerability to pests.

When only one type of crop is grown repeatedly, the soil can become depleted of specific nutrients that the crop requires, leading to a decline in soil health and fertility over time. This can result in lower yields as the soil's capacity to support healthy crop growth diminishes. Additionally, pests and diseases that target that specific crop can proliferate when it is grown continuously, as they do not have natural limits on their population due to the lack of crop rotation. This reliance on a single crop makes the farming system less resilient to pest outbreaks, disease, and environmental changes, leading to significant challenges for farmers.

While reduced crop yield can be a potential outcome, the critical factor highlighted here is the interlinking of soil degradation and pests, both of which stem from the lack of biodiversity that monoculture introduces into the farming system.