The Impact of Monoculture and the Removal of Hedgerows on the Environment.

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Sarah English

The Impact of Monoculture and the Removal of Hedgerows on the Environment

        Modern developments in agriculture have had far-reaching effects on both economics of farming and the environment. I am going to focus on a discussion of monoculture and removal of hedgerows, and the impact these actions have on the environment.

Monoculture is the devotion of a crop to a single plant species year after year.  Monoculture was designed to increase the productivity of farmland by growing only the best variety of crop, allowing more than one crop per year and reducing labour costs. Monoculture however is a threat to a part of our environment.

Worldwide, monocultures have increased dramatically. Fields which in the past have had a number of crops growing, or the only crop had a high degree of genetic diversity, are now devoted to a single crop where there is no genetic variation.

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Pest outbreaks often occur when large numbers of immigrant pests, inhibited populations of beneficial insects, favourable weather and vulnerable crop stages happen simultaneously. The depletion of soil organic matter has also reduced the food supply of soil organisms leading to less diversity of soil life, and therefore less natural control on potential pest problems.

Due to the high demand of certain nutrients in the soil by certain species has meant fertilisers are required to maintain soil fertility. This is expensive and can pollute surrounding groundwater due to leaching.  When rich nitrates reach the rivers, lakes etc. they cause eutrophication.

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