monoculture
MON-oh-kul-chur
/ˈmɒn.əʊˌkʌl.tʃər/
The cultivation of a single crop in a given area over consecutive years.
Often carries a negative environmental connotation regarding pest vulnerability and soil depletion.
The story behind the word. A 20th-century scientific compound combining Greek 'monos' (single, sole) with Latin 'cultura' (tilling, cultivation). It arose with industrial farming practices that standardized massive fields.
Word relationships
- single-cropping: Single-cropping is a plain description of planting one crop, whereas monoculture carries broader ecological and economic connotations.
- monocrop: Monocrop is used as a verb or noun for the specific plant species grown continuously.
- polyculture: Polyculture is the practice of growing multiple complementary crops together in the same field.
- crop rotation: Crop rotation involves changing crop species sequentially to maintain soil health.
Commonly confused with
- polyculture: Polyculture grows multiple crops simultaneously for ecological balance; monoculture grows only one species across massive fields.
Word family
- monocultural (adjective): Relating to or characterized by monoculture.
Collocations
- monoculture farming
- intensive monoculture
- monoculture plantation
- dangers of monoculture
Example sentences
- "Vast expanses of corn monoculture have made crops exceptionally vulnerable to specialized pest outbreaks." Environmental science
Memory hook
MONO (one) + CULTURE (growing) = growing ONE single crop everywhere. Mono = one single crop.
When not to use
Do not use to describe diverse, multi-crop organic farms.
Fun facts
- The Irish Potato Famine was exacerbated by monoculture: almost the entire population depended on a single clone of potato, the Irish Lumper.
Explore more words
crop rotation, rotation, homogenization, overpopulated, clear-cutting, homogenize
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