Farming Practices & their Effects on The Ecosystems

Topic Content:

1. Monocropping:

It is the practice of growing one crop on a farm year after year

Advantages of Monocropping:

Farming efficiency.

(i) The crop is the same over the whole farm, therefore farming-management decisions are simplified.

(ii) Only the machinery necessary to maintain the crop needs to be purchased.

(iii) The seasonal work is predictable allowing scheduling of casual labour (e.g., harvesting) and contract machinery.

(iv) Maximises the financial return and minimises costs.

Disadvantages of Monocropping:

(i) It destroys the soil structure leading to soil erosion.

(ii) Plant pests and diseases are likely to spread faster.

(iii) The crops absorb the same nutrients causing the loss of soil fertility.

(iv) Great dependency on one crop. If the market falls then income is severely affected.

2. Mixed Cropping:

This is the practice of cultivating two or more different crops on a piece of a farm at the same time

 Advantages of Mixed Cropping:

(i) It checks