Factory Farming's Failure: How Industrial Agriculture is Devastating Crop Diversity and Yields

Vast expanse of fields spread over hundreds of hectares may conjure images of commercial agriculture with mechanization, prosperity and modernity. But is the way we farm, inherently broken?

The modern agricultural industry has seen a rise in industrial farming 
practices, where a single crop is grown on a large scale and often 
treated with chemical pesticides and fertilizers.         

Commercial agriculture entails Monoculture where we end up growing a single crop in a field for an extended period of time. This type of agricultural system is widely used in many regions of the world, but it can have negative impacts on soil health, crop yields, and the environment. One of the main concerns with monoculture is the impact it has on microbial communities in the soil. With fears of climate change and rising challenges of food security is this deck of cards set to come tumbling down?

Monoculture Misery

Soil microbial communities are a diverse group of microorganisms that play a critical role in maintaining soil health and fertility. In monoculture systems, the lack of crop diversity can lead to a decline in soil microbial diversity and an increase in the abundance of certain pathogens.

For example, a study conducted in the Loess Plateau region of China found that the monoculture of wheat and barley led to a significant reduction in soil microbial diversity and an increase in the abundance of pathogens, such as Fusarium and Rhizoctonia, which can cause plant diseases and lead to severe crop loss.

"Loess" is a word of German origin, which means loose, and the soft, 
loose property of the soil makes it highly susceptible to erosion.         

Another study conducted in the Midwest region of the United States found that monoculture of corn and soybeans for more than 20 years, led to decline in soil microbial diversity and an increase in the abundance of pathogens such as Fusarium and Phytophthora.

What is the difference?- Average corn yield — 
CRD’s with higher average corn yields are 
associated with higher corn-soybean acre ratios.        

Setting up for failure

The decline in soil microbial diversity and the increase in pathogens can also have a negative impact on crop yields. The study in the Loess Plateau region of China found that the monoculture of wheat and barley led to a decline in crop yields. Similarly, the Midwest study found that monoculture fields had lower corn and soybean yields compared to fields where different crops were rotated.

The decline in crop yields is likely due to the depletion of soil nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as the build-up of pathogens in the soil.

Squeezed out dry

Monoculture can also change the soil nutrient profile. When a single crop species is grown over a large area, it can deplete the soil of certain nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This occurs because the crop removes these nutrients from the soil during its growth, and they are not replenished in the same quantity as they are removed. Additionally, the lack of rotation of crops can lead to the build-up of certain nutrients in the soil, such as carbon and nitrogen, which can be detrimental to the growth of other crops.

Diversity breeds Diversity

Crop rotation is a sustainable agricultural practice that involves alternating the types of crops grown in a field over time. This can help to improve soil health, replenish soil nutrients, and reduce the build-up of pathogens in the soil.

For example, a study conducted in the Midwest region of the United States found that crop rotation (corn-soybean-wheat-cover crop) significantly improved soil microbial diversity and reduced the abundance of certain pathogens, such as Fusarium and Phytophthora. Additionally, crop rotation significantly improved crop yields.

In a field where tomatoes and chili have been grown for many years, it would be beneficial to choose crops with different nutrient requirements and less susceptibility to the pathogens present. Legumes, root crops, brassicas, and grains are some options for crop rotation. For example, peas and beans can fix nitrogen in the soil, carrots, radishes, and beets have different nutrient requirements, and broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are less susceptible to pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum and Phytophthora infestans.

It's important to note that crop rotation should be tailored to the specific growing conditions and pathogen pressures of a field and that it is important to consult with local experts, such as extension agents or agronomists, to determine the best crop rotation plan for a specific field.

Rotation Revolution & Rewards

Factory farming systems can have a negative impact on soil microbial communities and crop yields. Even a single cycle of changing cropping patterns leads to significant improvement in the soil microbial diversity. We might want to relook at the way we grow food today.

It's time we relooked at the way we grow our food. 
For stable sustiable food we might have to do away with 
Factory farming systems