What does monoculture refer to?

Monoculture refers to the practice of farming only one type of crop in a specific area. This farming approach is often utilized for its efficiency in planting, maintenance, and harvesting since all plants require similar care and can be cultivated at the same time. Additionally, monoculture can lead to higher yields for that particular crop due to specialized management practices focused on that single species. However, it can also create vulnerabilities, such as increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, as the lack of diversity provides fewer defenses against these threats. In contrast, rotating different crops or cultivating diverse species would lead to practices such as crop rotation or polyculture, which promote biodiversity and can enhance soil health and ecosystem resilience.