Monoculture

Monoculture makes it simpler for farms to produce high quantities of a crop, and the ease of sowing and harvesting, and also pest management, makes things easier for laborers and producers. Monoculture is now controversial because it lowers soil quality over time and allows pests and diseases to proliferate quickly and devastatingly. Polyculture, or the growing of many crops together, is better for the environment. In Greek, mono signifies "one," whereas poly means "many."

Synonyms: Monocropping

Related Terms: crop rotation, polyculture