The major challenge in eliminating monoculture is keeping the food supply high enough so people don't go hungry. That is a valid concern, as food insecurity, which discriminately affects low-income households, would only worsen if the supply suddenly dipped.
Another challenge is that many local farmers struggle to transition from monocropping. They may face complex financial or technical issues.
Political willingness is also a concern, as the government can institute policies that support sustainable farming. They also have the authority to compel large agro companies to adopt more environment-friendly practices.
However, monoculture is not sustainable. Past trends show that continuing monocultural farming would only increase nitrogen pollution, irrigated fields, and agricultural encroachment.
Conclusion
Many farmers have turned to monoculture to avoid lower yields. Despite its seemingly great economic benefits, monoculture has unpleasant environmental consequences. Diversity in agriculture is the way to go. It has long-term positive effects on the environment and the economy.
Username: Meherbaan Published on 2024-12-10 16:49:05 ID NUMBER: 126458
If monoculture is not ideal, why is it the most common agricultural practice in the world today? All the primary reasons for monocultural farming revolve around maximizing profits.
If a farmer plants a single crop on the entire farm, there's more space available for that crop, making them a major supplier. Also, they can run the whole business using a single farming system: the same seed, pest control, weed control, and machinery. That helps farmers save considerable amounts of money and effort.
Popular crops grown in monoculture plantations include corn, wheat, rice, sugar cane, soybeans, and oil palm trees. Monoculture crops are usually essential sources of food, fiber, and other commercially important materials.
Monoculture has helped to increase food and fiber production. The increase in grain production has helped reduce the number of malnourished people even as the population keeps rising.
Effects of monoculture on the environment
Monoculture has immediately noticeable advantages, but it also has adverse effects that are slow but destructive. Such effects include environmental degradation and risks to human health.
Let's consider some consequences of monoculture.
Lack of biodiversity
Natural ecosystems consist of diverse wildlife communities that effectively sustain one another. Because of that diversity, essential ecosystem services like biological control of pests and diseases, carbon sequestration, pollination, etc., occur.
Monoculture is essentially a threat to biodiversity. Farmers remove all crops except the crop of choice. Consequently, they also force out animal species dependent on those removed plants by extermination, starvation, or lack of habitat.
Many native animal and plant species, some critical to the environment, become extinct because of monoculture. Agricultural expansion already threatens the natural environment, and monocropping makes it even scarier.
Planting the same crop year after year on the same piece of land strains soil resources.
Different crops demand more soil nutrients while adding other nutrients. For example, legumes use more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen. Soybean monoculture will result in excess nitrogen in the soil and less of other nutrients. Such imbalances mess with soil health.
Various bacteria and microorganisms replenish the soil and keep it fertile. Different microbes mean many kinds of nutrients and soil health services. Research has established that plant diversity influences soil health and the type of microbial community in an area2. With monocropping, the variety of microbes significantly decreases.
Nutrient pollution
Since monoculture depletes soil nutrients, farmers must maximize production by using chemical fertilizers. However, there are severe environmental costs associated with using artificial fertilizers. Chemicals from fertilizers enter rivers, lakes, streams, and reservoirs through rainfall runoff or erosion, and they can also seep into groundwater.
Oversaturation of soil nutrients in aquatic habitats can cause harmful algae blooms, depleting the water's oxygen. Swimming in or accidentally swallowing water contaminated by such algae can cause serious health issues. Soil nitrate can also find its way into our drinking water. Water with high enough nitrates can be fatal to infants.
Excess fertilizer use also contributes to climate change. Nitrogen-based chemical fertilizers produce nitrogen oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas with 265 times more warming power than carbon dioxide3.
Pests and diseases more easily destroy monoculture crops as they lack the resistance a diverse plant and animal population would have provided. Those destructive agents stay in monocultural fields longer because they find them a perfect home.
Farmers who practice monoculture agriculture tend to use pesticides and herbicides excessively. Some parasites even resist the pesticides used against them, passing on the immunity to their offspring, so farmers use even more potent pesticides.
Pesticides, insecticides, rodents, and herbicides contain toxic chemicals harmful to humans and wildlife. These chemicals contaminate the soil and groundwater, enter water bodies, and become air pollutants.
Weak ecosystems
Agricultural ecosystems typically lack the resilience that undisturbed environments show in the face of biological and geological challenges. Monoculture, especially, creates fragile ecosystems.
For example, natural environments have biocontrol agents that control plant diseases and pests. Monoculture does not allow for diverse species to serve as control agents. Therefore, one pathogen can wipe out acres of monoculture farms in a blink.
Furthermore, monoculture fields cannot withstand weather events like fires, floods, and erosion due to a lack of diversity in root length and canopy. One type of root also means water uptake occurs at one level in the ground. In cases of severe drought, deep roots will require more irrigation, straining water resources.
Nutrition and health
There are over 350,000 known plant species, of which around 7,000 to 30,000 are considered edible and have been used for food and agriculture. Yet, only about 255 plants currently make up the bulk of the human diet worldwide1. We lack food diversity because monoculture prioritizes the production of certain crops over others based on profitability.
Over the last century, we have lost more than three-quarters of the genetic diversity in crops. Because monoculture has restricted us to a few options, we may be missing out on fantastic health and nutritional benefits.
Another concern monoculture raises is the effect of crop genetic modification. Despite bans on GMO foods, we have modified many of the crops we consume today for hardiness, higher yield, and easier processing. Both corn and soybeans are popular GMO crops.
Economical effects of monoculture
Here are some economic disadvantages of monocropping:
Monoculture farming may push small local farmers into obscurity in favor of big corporations that can afford more land and complex machinery. These companies produce in larger quantities and ship their products worldwide. And since monoculture can be relatively cheaper than other methods, they can sell quite at meager prices, pushing small farmers off the market.
Market shocks
Monoculture farmers typically focus on a single product and supply distant markets. There are many risks involved in doing business that way.
Monoculture farms have little chance of survival, like a drought or pest attacks, if something goes wrong. A farmer could lose their entire harvest. Lost or destroyed cargo also presents a problem. Its high-risk nature can lead to sudden scarcity and economic hardships for farmers and their customers.
Food insecurity
Monoculture is dangerous to pollinators because it lacks crop diversity and is chemically intensive. Pollinators may become sick and die as they migrate through monoculture fields. In addition, pollinators with only one food source suffer from nutrient deficiencies and weakened immune systems due to poor diets.
The declining pollinator population is a global concern because it directly affects crop yields. Fewer pollinators equals lower food production. Big agriculture corporations can usually afford artificial pollination, but what about small-scale farmers?
Monoculture isn't the only way to grow crops; other ways don't put the environment at risk as much. Switching to sustainable agriculture has many advantages, but maintaining plant diversity is vital.
Maintaining biodiversity sustains ecosystem services that increase yields, such as biological control, unmanaged pollination, and waste disposal services.
It also maximizes land fully for production since different species of plants can thrive on the same field at different seasons of the year. In monocropping, the land lies idle once the growing season is over.
Farmers need to start looking at other types of farming that are more environmentally friendly than monoculture. Thankfully, there is more than one way to practice sustainable agriculture. We have;
Polyculture
Polyculture is the practice of simultaneously growing different crops on the same piece of land. One key benefit is that some crops can serve as pest repellents for other crops. Polyculture also increases soil fertility and water retention.
Conservation agriculture
This farming system tries to replicate natural ecosystems as much as possible. It promotes minimal soil disturbance, diverse plant species, and permanent soil cover. Conservation agriculture's most significant advantage is that farmers have a higher hope of stable yields.
Crop rotation
A rotation system allows a farmer to plant different crops on the same field in sequence. Crop rotation interrupts pest cycles and removes pathogens. It also helps revitalize and balance the soil. For example, planting nitrogen-loving vegetables after legumes keeps the soil nitrogen balanced.
Permaculture
Permaculture is a sustainable food production system that embraces the whole concept of sustainable living. Its key aspect is eliminating resource waste, and it encourages slow consumption.
The major challenge in eliminating monoculture is keeping the food supply high enough so people don't go hungry. That is a valid concern, as food insecurity, which discriminately affects low-income households, would only worsen if the supply suddenly dipped.
Another challenge is that many local farmers struggle to transition from monocropping. They may face complex financial or technical issues.
Political willingness is also a concern, as the government can institute policies that support sustainable farming. They also have the authority to compel large agro companies to adopt more environment-friendly practices.
However, monoculture is not sustainable. Past trends show that continuing monocultural farming would only increase nitrogen pollution, irrigated fields, and agricultural encroachment.
Conclusion
Many farmers have turned to monoculture to avoid lower yields. Despite its seemingly great economic benefits, monoculture has unpleasant environmental consequences. Diversity in agriculture is the way to go. It has long-term positive effects on the environment and the economy.
The major challenge in eliminating monoculture is keeping the food supply high enough so people don't go hungry. That is a valid concern, as food insecurity, which discriminately affects low-income households, would only worsen if the supply suddenly dipped.
Another challenge is that many local farmers struggle to transition from monocropping. They may face complex financial or technical issues.
Political willingness is also a concern, as the government can institute policies that support sustainable farming. They also have the authority to compel large agro companies to adopt more environment-friendly practices.
However, monoculture is not sustainable. Past trends show that continuing monocultural farming would only increase nitrogen pollution, irrigated fields, and agricultural encroachment.
Conclusion
Many farmers have turned to monoculture to avoid lower yields. Despite its seemingly great economic benefits, monoculture has unpleasant environmental consequences. Diversity in agriculture is the way to go. It has long-term positive effects on the environment and the economy.
What is Ayan thinking? Good Boy: Ayan Hossen From: Birampur BP ভালো ছেলে: আয়ান হোসেন প্রেরক: বিরামপুর বিপি #Ayan #Hossen #AyanHossen #Birampur #KachPedia Thursday 15 February 2024 Code number AYANISGOOD
It’s an edible vegetable oil that comes from the fruit of oil palm trees, the scientific name is Elaeis guineensis. Two types of oil can be produced; crude palm oil comes from squeezing the fleshy fruit, and palm kernel oil which comes from crushing the kernel, or the stone in the middle of the fruit. Oil palm trees are native to Africa but were brought to South-East Asia just over 100 years ago as an ornamental tree crop. Now, Indonesia and Malaysia make up over 85% of global supply but there are 42 other countries that also produce palm oil.
Palm oil can be produced more sustainably and there is a role for companies, governments, and consumers to play. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil or RSPO was formed in 2004 in response to increasing concerns about the impacts palm oil was having on the environment and on society. The RSPO has production standards for growers that set best practices for producing and sourcing palm oil, and it has the buy-in of most of the global industry. RSPO encourage companies to:
Set robust policies to remove deforestation, conversion of other natural ecosystems, such as peatlands, and human rights abuses from their supply chains
Buy and use RSPO certified palm oil across their operations globally
Be transparent in their use and sourcing of palm oil ensuring they know who they are buying from and where it’s been produced
It is important that the palm oil industry continues to invest in and grow support for and smallholder programmes and sustainable landscape initiatives. WWF is also working with governments in both palm oil using and palm oil producing countries to make sure that national laws are in place to ensure that any palm oil traded is free of deforestation, conversion and exploitation.
The ecosystem and living organisms' cells have six primary elements: oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. The nutrient cycle, or the biogeochemical cycle, is the movement of these nutrients from the environment into plants, animals, and humans and recycling it again.
The primary elements mentioned earlier move through the earth’s ecosystem—atmosphere, water bodies, soil, and living organisms. It recycles and reuses these elements to maintain order. These nutrients fuel life, recycling themselves in a closed loop.
Nutrient cycles occur through living and nonliving organisms using chemical, biological, and geological processes. However, soil microbes are an essential element that helps foster nutrient cycles. Soil and its microbes help break down organic matter and release nutrients into a processing cycle, changing forms until they return to their original state.
Imagining a situation where cutting down trees could be deemed sustainable may be difficult. Leaving forests untouched would seem more acceptable, but in the face of human dependency on forest resources, sustainable forestry is the best course of action.
Sustainable forestry is all about balancing our needs and the well-being of forest ecosystems. The forest management method seeks to mimic how natural forests operate.
Wild forests are a hotbed of eco-diversity and great carbon sinks. They often have economic and cultural significance to local communities. Sustainable forestry aims to cultivate forests that can provide the same social and environmental benefits without giving up on the economic benefits.
Simply defined, sustainable forestry is cultivating trees for timber while protecting the surrounding biological and social ecosystem.
It's important to note that no universal sustainable forestry management system exists. That's because forest ecosystems and their social environment differ from place to place.
Moths are winged flying insects. They are a paraphyletic group of insects that consists of all members of the order Lepidoptera, excluding butterflies.
Lepidoptera, which translates to “scaly-winged,” is an order of insects whereby insects undergo a larval stage popularly known as a caterpillar, a pupal stage known as chrysalis, or cocoon, and the adult stage known as butterfly or moth. Many people often confuse moths with butterflies, but they differ from each other.
There are about 160,000 unique species of the nocturnal flying moth1, except for a few species active during the day, like the sphinx moth, day moth, and buck moth. On the other hand, moths’ close relative, the butterfly, has 17,500 species. There are nearly 11,000 species of moth in the United States and 2,500 in the United Kingdom.
Like all insects, moths have six legs, two antennae, a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. They have a life span of six months to three years. Furthermore, moths range in size from a few millimeters to the largest moth species with a wingspan of 10 inches (25cm).
In addition, moths are diverse in their ecology. Moths inhabit places like farmlands, gardens, woodlands, marshlands, sand dunes, and even mountains. They also tend to lay eggs within cracks, near plumbing fixtures, and other dark areas. Moths come in various types, from the familiar brown house moth to multicolored, unique ones.
Plants that flower, especially native varieties, should be easy for you to get your hands on. Simply ask for those grown in your particular region. Native flowering plants won’t be difficult to grow either at your location because of their suitability to the local climatic and geographical conditions.
Honey bees love a variety of flower species because they are flat, open, and tubular in structure. Therefore, The flower shapes make it easy for bees to enter and ensure that pollen brushes on their bodies. They also have bright colors and exotic scents, which are particularly appealing to the honey bee. They love purple, blue, and yellow flowers the most.
It won’t be difficult to find or grow flowering plant species because they can thrive in most living conditions. You can check out the local nursery to see what varieties are available. A website such as Native Plant Finder could be a useful guide in figuring out which flowering plants native to your region perfect for attracting pollinators.
Great options for some of the best flowers that attract bees include:
The major challenge in eliminating monoculture is keeping the food supply high enough so people don't go hungry. That is a valid concern, as food insecurity, which discriminately affects low-income households, would only worsen if the supply suddenly dipped.
Another challenge is that many local farmers struggle to transition from monocropping. They may face complex financial or technical issues.
Political willingness is also a concern, as the government can institute policies that support sustainable farming. They also have the authority to compel large agro companies to adopt more environment-friendly practices.
However, monoculture is not sustainable. Past trends show that continuing monocultural farming would only increase nitrogen pollution, irrigated fields, and agricultural encroachment.
Conclusion
Many farmers have turned to monoculture to avoid lower yields. Despite its seemingly great economic benefits, monoculture has unpleasant environmental consequences. Diversity in agriculture is the way to go. It has long-term positive effects on the environment and the economy.
Ocean acidification results from a chemical reaction caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Many human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, various land uses, and manufacturing practices, release tons of C02 into the atmosphere. These carbon emissions don’t stay in the atmosphere.
Plants and the oceans absorb carbon dioxide. The world’s oceans absorb 30% of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing an increase in ocean acidity. An increase in the ocean’s pH directly impacts excess carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels. The ocean absorbs one-third of the carbon released from burning fossil fuels.
The pH scale is from 0 to 14; anything over 7 is alkaline, and anything below 7 is acidic. More hydrogen ions lead to higher acidity and a lower pH. As seawater absorbs carbon dioxide, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is a weak acid that separates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions, increasing its acidity.
Before the industrial revolution began, seawater's pH was 8.2. In the 21st century, it dropped by 0.1 pH units to 8.1. Scientists predict surface ocean waters will become more acidic by 21002, falling to 7.8. 7.8 makes the ocean 150 times more acidic.
