Monoculture is the practice of planting large tracts of land with the same crop year after year. It is an efficient method of producing food but requires mechanized farming and the use of agricultural chemicals
Fossil fuels are necessary in mechanized farming for tilling, planting, harvesting, and pumping irrigation water. Energy is also needed to manufacture fertilizers and pesticides.
Pesticides are commonly used in mechanized agriculture because planting the same crop repeatedly encourages the growth of insect and fungus pest populations that develop in response to the huge food supply at their disposal.
Fertilizers are used in mechanized farming because the lack of crop rotation depletes certain essential soil nutrients. A problem associated with fertilizer use is increased nutrients in waterways which leads to increased aquatic plant growth.
Persistent pesticides are stable chemical compounds which are long-lasting in the environment. They can be applied once and be effective for a long time, but tend to accumulate in the soil and in nontarget organisms. Nonpersistent pesticides decompose to harmless products in a few hours or days and do not accumulate in the environment. They are disadvantageous because
they require more applications.
Biomagnification is the phenomenon of acquiring increasing levels of a substance in the bodies of higher trophic-level organisms.
Organic farms produce crops without using pesticides and chemical fertilizers. They are willing to accept lower yields because they do not have to pay for fertilizers and pesticides. Organic farms also receive higher prices for products that are organically grown.
Nonchemical methods for controlling pests include the use of natural predators or parasites, the development of resistant crops, the use of natural pesticides, the modification of farming practices, and the use of sex attractants.
The advantage of integrated pest management is the decrease in the amount of pesticides used. The disadvantage is that farmers must make modifications to their farming technique.
Three uses of food additives include prolonging the storage life of food, making the food more attractive, and modifying its nutritive value.
Actions that farmers can use to reduce the effect of pesticides on the environment include the use of genetically modified crops, organic farming, and integrated pest management.
