Mono cropping and Crop rotation

Subject: Agriculture

Context:

Crop rotation and diversity should be promoted to mitigate the environmental effects of growing just rice and wheat

Concept:

Mono cropping

• Mono-crop farming is the practice of growing large amounts of one crop on the land.
• This practice was recognized as a very economical way to provide farmers with a way to earn money, grow large amounts of a staple crop, like soy, corn, or wheat, and sell these crops off to any company willing to use it for food or fuel.
• The problem with this is that the destruction that is done to the environment when mono-cropping is being engaged is far greater than the benefits it brings.
• This type of farming does not provide the diversity needed in our diets or to our ecosystem.

Crop rotation

• Crop rotation refers to the cultivation of different crops on a particular piece of land over time.
• The succession of crops to be grown is carefully designed to ensure soil nutrients are sustained, pest populations are controlled, weeds are suppressed and soil health is built.
• A crop rotation will cycle through cash crops (such as vegetables), cover crops (grasses and cereals) and green manures (often legumes).
• The exact sequence of crops will vary depending on local circumstances, with the critical design element being an understanding what each crop contributes and takes from the soil. For instance, nitrogen depleting crop should be preceded by a nitrogen fixing crop.
• The central idea is to have the crops themselves sustain soil health, rather than planting the same crop year in, year out, and then repairing soil health through fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides.