SLIDESMANIA.

MONOCROPPI
NG
VS.
SLIDESMANIA.C

Monocroppi
ng…
Monocropping is the practice of growing a single
crop year after year on the same land.

Monocropping is commonly practiced in

commercial farms and in smallholder farms with
relatively large areas for cultivation.

v
SLIDESMANIA.C

How is
Monocropping Done
The method of monocropping allows for farmers to
have consistent crops throughout their entire farm. And
so the farmers plant their most profitable crop only,
using the same seed, pest control, machinery, and
growing method on their entire farm
SLIDESMANIA.C

Crops used in Monocropping

Corn/Maize Soya Beans

Wheat Oranges

v
SLIDESMANIA.C

Disadvantages of Monocropping
1. Destroys soil nutrients 2. Results in the use of harmful chemicals

Monoculture eliminates all natural nutrients. As a

With the nutrients in the soil eliminated, farmers have to
result, there is no range of insect and soil
introduce artificial products that could replicate the
microorganism species due to the lack of crop
functions and nutrients lost like the introduction of large
diversity that promotes insect and soil microbe
amounts of herbicides, fertilizers, bactericides, and
biodiversity. insecticides.

It also means there are no varieties in the plants to Unfortunately, the chemicals leave traces in crops meant for
naturally provide nutrients to the soil that can improve human consumption, meaning they end up in the food chain
the nutrient content of the soil. Also, it kills and could result in serious health consequences due to bio-
microorganisms and bacteria in the land, undermining accumulation.
its integrity
SLIDESMANIA.C

3. Pollutes groundwater 4. Adversely affects and alters the natural

supplies ecosystem

Even if the plant is harvested, the chemicals remain in the

soil. Since they are inorganic, they cannot be processed The overuse of such inorganic chemicals forces organisms
by microorganisms in the soil into organic matter. They to evolve and develop resistances to artificial insecticides
leach through the ground and eventually pollute and herbicides. As more and more inorganic compounds
groundwater supplies and altering ecosystems that may be continue to be poured into the soil, it continues to affect
great distances away from the location of use. In the long- natural ecosystems detrimentally
run, the chemicals may kill, harm, or deplete the diversity
and vibrancy of neighboring ecosystems.

v
SLIDESMANIA.C

5. Requires lots of water

6. Uses a lot of fossil fuel energy to irrigate

When selling the crops, sorting, packaging and

Since monoculture results in the topsoil cover being
transporting them requires a substantial amount
harvested all at the same time, the topsoil loses
of fossil fuel energy. The energy used, the
elements that could help it retain moisture.
chemical fertilizers and pesticides and other Contemporary monoculture agricultural practices,
industrialized methods of producing such foods, therefore, require vast amounts of water to irrigate
play a considerable role in contributing to the crops.
environmental pollution and climate change. It It also means the water resources will, in turn, be
also continues to jeopardize the environment for affected by the inorganic chemicals being pumped
future generations. into the crops and soil by the farmers.

v
SLIDESMANIA.C

1. Simplicity

Advantages of Treating pests and diseases is also made without considering the effects of the
treatment on other plants as there are none. Also, during harvesting,
Monocropping monocultures provide uniformity as it is easy to collect the desirable parts of
the plant through straightforward techniques.

2. Results in higher yields

The fields are significantly specialized towards the maximum production of yields
from the specific crop. It, therefore, results in higher yields and lower costs. For
animals or livestock, they go through the same procedure of birth, development,
and maturity. The process also results in lower costs on the part of the farmer as
well as excellent yields when the animals become mature.
SLIDESMANIA.C

4. It is efficient and more profitable to the farmer.

When one distinct crop is grown at the same time, it means only one method of harvesting will be needed. It is efficient
and more profitable for the farmer. Crops best-suited for a field can be planted against harsh climatic conditions like
drought, winds, and short growing seasons, favoring the crop and thus having less impact on the yield. The form of
agriculture is common for growing wheat, vegetables, barley or unique species of fruit in vast fields

3. Lowers the amount of extra land required

The plants specifically, use synthesized fertilizers, reducing the amount of additional land needed to produce
food. The animals, at the same time, would require the same fertilization mechanisms.
SLIDESMANIA.C

Intercroppin
g….
Intercropping involves cultivating two or more
crops in a field simultaneously. The most common
goal of intercropping is to produce a greater yield
on a given piece of land by making use of resources
that would otherwise not be utilized by a single
crop.

v
SLIDESMANIA.C

How is
Intercropping Done
The intercropping practice involves sowing
different species (two or more) in one terrain with
no distinct arrangement in rows or in the same
rows. In this case, the time to sow and harvest
coincides. One of the vegetables must be a small-
growing and quick-maturing crop; the other must
be larger and late maturing.
SLIDESMANIA.C

Examples of Crops Used in Intercropping

Tomatoes Garlic

Coffee Banana

v
SLIDESMANIA.C

Advantages of
Intercropping ● Diversity and stability of fields.

● Reduction in chemical/fertilizer application.

● A complementary sharing of plant resources, such as

Nitrogen from N fixing plants.
● Weed suppression, and a reduction in susceptibility to
insects and disease.
SLIDESMANIA.C

Disadvantages of Intercropping
● Intercropping is not always suited to a mechanised farming system.
● Time consuming: It requires more attention and thus increased intensive,
expert management.
● There is reduced efficiency in planting, weeding and harvesting which may add
to the labour costs of these operations.
● Good planning is very important and includes careful cultivar selection, proper
spacing etc.
● The biggest challenge to adopting intercropping systems is the advance
planning of planting, cultivation, fertilisation, spraying and harvesting of more
than one crop in the same field.
SLIDESMANIA.C

READY TO HARVEST?
https://dutchopeners.com/the-benefits-of-intercropping/

https://www.grainsa.co.za/the-pros--cons-of-intercropping

https://eos.com/blog/intercropping/